Top 5

Top Neo-Noir

When I say Neo-Noir I'm not just referring to a film's recent creation (relative to the pre-1960's classic period), but also to a film's seeming consciousness that it's within the noir genre, or pushing the boundaries of that genre. 

Here's my attempt to loosely define the classic noir genre: protagonists are usually tough but vulnerable, and aren't clearly "good" or "bad."  Trouble usually finds them, and that trouble often consists of murder, elaborate deception, obsession, perversion, alienation.  Visual emphasis is placed on darkness and shadow.

Here's my list:

1.  Chinatown, 1974. It had been a while since the heyday of classic noir, and few impressive films of that sort were being produced (one exception is Point Blank, see below) ; Polanski's noir takes place in the bright CA sun, and the good guy doesn't come anywhere close to winning.

2.  The Big Lebowski, 1999.  One of its major influences is The Big Sleep.  For some real fun, watch both movies in one night and count all of the similarities. 

3.  Memento, 2000. Would have been memorable if told in the other direction, but this is a masterful meld of form and content.  The narrative style forces us to unlearn as we learn. 

4.  Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, 2005.    Irony abounds as noir tropes are turned on their heads (i.e. Robert Downey Jr.'s lit cigarette revolts some LA partygoers).  Meta-film: the last scenes have Downey and Kilmer addressing their audience.

5.  Point Blank, 1967.  Lee Marvin embarks on a path of vengeance... and not everything is as it seems.  (I don't want to give it away!)  Mel Gibson remade this into the less interesting Payback.

I also tip my hat to both versions of Insomnia (unending daylight!) and L.A. Confidential (which to the best of my memory doesn't seem to be self-consciously participating in the genre.)

Re: Top Neo-Noir

1.  Fargo, 1996.  Definitely Neo-Noir, although doesn't conform to your description in one way.  I think Marge is fundamentally through and through "good".  Most Coen brothers films have a neo noir feel like their first film Blood Simple.  Miller's Crossing and The Man Who Wasn't There are almost classic noir.

2.  Reservoir Dogs, 1992.  I'd say this counts.  I'm surprised you didn't say Pulp Fiction, SkyPilot, as I thought it was your favorite film. Do you not consider that neo-noir?

3.  Who Framed Roger Rabbit, 1988.  Actually very well written, constructed, and played out as a classic detective film noir film.  Even set in the right era.  It's a clash between this dark gritty noir reality with the zany cartoon reality that emphasises the qualities of each.  If each reality were not done right, it wouldn't work.

4.  The Singing Detective, 2003.  I find this movie so complex and amazing, it is too overwhelming for me to try to describe it.  I'll try to say something though.  It uses the film noir feel and detective persona, searching for clues as to the reasons the main character has become the person he has become.  It's amazing, dense, and so perfect to me.  And very very funny.  I showed it to SkyPilot and he noticed that Robert Downey, Jr. uses the phrase "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang".  And interesting precursor to that film.  I should probably see that one.

5.  Seven, 1995.  See SkyPilot's decription of Neo-Noir.  I think this is it.

I also wanted to mention Chinatown and Memento too, but I left them off since you already got them.

Re: Top Neo-Noir

I just watched Brick and holy cow is it good!  I forget where I read this, but the director said he wanted to do something new with noir, so he set it in a high school.  I think I'd rate it just below Memento in my list, but I'll leave my original post as is.

I like all of your choices Risselada.  I think I would consider Pulp Fiction neo-noir (just look at the title)--I even thought about it while I was writing my post.  Don't quite know why I didn't put it there.

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Here are a few for me; but perhaps with the exception of Lynch's work, they may not be 'neo', merely noir,

The Last Seduction

Lost Highway

Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Falls

Man Bites Dog (???)

The Long Goodbye ( Altman's)

Ice Harvest

Salton Sea

Blackmail is My Life

The American Soldier

Red Rock West

Re: Top Neo-Noir

oops,

meant to add these three, all from books by the Master, Jim Thompson ( perhaps these are simply noir )

The Grifters

After Dark, My Sweet

The Getaway (original version not the Baldwin crap )

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I absolutely loved how they took the Neo-Noir style and incorporated it into a school setting, very cool. I had not seen that done before.

Re: Top Neo-Noir

A lot of my favorites have already been mentioned (Chinatown, Body Heat, Point Blank, LA Confidential, The Long Goodbye), and certainly Brick is probably one of the better recent entries in the genre. I love how the characters all mirror conventional noir cliches without losing the whole 'high school' feel and without being overly cutesy and self-conscious. The nerd as 'faithful girl friday', the colorfully creepy villain (operating out of his Mom's basement no less), the tough talking chief of police reimagined as the Assistant Principal. One of the more imaginative takes on noir I've seen in a long time. Would be fun to watch back to back with Maltese Falcon to compare and contrast.

Nobody has yet mentioned the Coen's first feature 'Blood Simple', another favorite.