Codes/Convetions and Stylistics of Film Noir

The codes, conventions and stylistics of film noir have a big difference when compared to the codes, conventions and characteristics of films that are not film noirs. Film noir is very noticeable and its easy to tell if a film is a film noir, for example film noir has such generic indicators as vernition blinds and a femme fetale, whereas these are generally not seen in films other than film noir. For example the editing is different in a film noir, in film noir there are lots of fades, and cross cuts, which are used in other films, but not to such an extent as the way they are used in film noir. The style of cinematography used is different in film noirs, for example o lot of close-ups are used in film noirs, which would put emphasis on what’s important in the frame, also film noir really uses cinematography to show a characters emotions and state of mind, for example long shots are used in order to show a character on their own and shows the audience that that character is feeling lonely, this is what helps push the narrative along so well. The sound in film noirs tends to be a bit more non-diegetic sound, and although film noir does uses music and other aspects of sound to set the mood and tone of the piece, it heavily uses non-diegetic sound like sounds you would naturally hear whilst walking along the street or in a busy office. Mise-en-scene is the biggest characteristic that film noir has, film noir cleverly plays on the use of light and scene will generally tend be a lot darker than other films, this is to help keep the tone of a film noir as rather dark and depressing. Costumes and appearances have a big impact when creating a film noir, for example the way we can distinguish certain characters such as a femme fetale is by the way she looks, she will usually been shown in a dark light, maybe not fully visible, very mysterious, with deep red lipstick and will be very attractive.