What is Neo-Noir?

This genre came up while i was searching something and i wondered what it as as i have never come across it before. I have been trying to find the definititon for some time without using the cliche wikipedia.com. Once i found out that it means 'new-film', it came to me that this has nothing to do with the film noir opening i am creating as i am doing mine as traditional a possible. Neo-Noir breaks the 'rules' and classic film noir aspects. So the website i have found: http://www.jahsonic.com/NeoNoir.html is to-the-point, but i have tried to put it into my own words so i can look back on it for future reference. So here are the quick notes i jotted down:

• Its a term given to the modern trend of using film noir as an influence to 'mesh; with other genres to create a new and interesting partnership - these films are called Neo-Noir.
• Even though, film noirs haven't been actively made since the 1960's, they still influence a great number of films in this day and age.
• It wasn't until the 1970's that the term really took off and the makers of this new genre are now fortunate enough to have modern circumstances and technology to help them create the most interesting films possible.
• However, the use of technology has taken this new genre further away from its first inspiration - film noir, as during the 1940's to 1960's these modern technologies were unthought of and unimportant.
• Some say that when film-noir became popular again in the 1960's, "the return of the noir style yielded movies marked not just with nostalgia, but with a desire to challenge the traditions set by their predecessors -- a genre that came to be known as neo-noir."

Here is a website that has a count-down of the 10 best neo-noirs ever: http://blogs.amctv.com/photo-galleries/best-neo-noir-movies/lone-star.php I have also added a bit of information of these neo-noirs as it would be boring just copying off this website! Lets see who was voted #1...

# 10 - Lone Star (1996) - Its an American Mystery film that is set in a small town in Texas. It was directed by John Sayles who also screenwrote with Steven Spielberg for the comedy horror film 'Piranha' (1978).
# 9 - Blade Runner (1982) - The directer Ridley Scott cleverly proved that film noir is a style that can be partnered with an genre. This film was a mixture of a sci-fi theme, complex characters and chiaroscuro lighting. It was nothing ever seen before.
# 8 - Memento (2000) - Its a psychological thriller that was directed and written by Christopher Nolan. He previously did the feature film 'Following' (1998) and then went on to direct the remake of 'Insomnia' (2002). In the film Memento, he played with time to create a disorienting, a tale of murder and revenge in which the beginning is the end is the beginning. This film takes complex and maze-like plots to the next level.
# 7 - Body Heat (1981) - Its a remake of Billy Wilder's film-noir 'Double Indemnity' (1944). Its about a sleazy wealthy Lawyer who tries to keep an affair secret with a married women. It was written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan.
# 6 - Basic Instinct (1992) - It was one of the most controversial film of its era due to it portrayal of violent sex and homosexual relationships. It follows the story of a police detective who is investigating the story behind a brutal murder of a wealthy formal rock star.Despite initial critical negativity and public protest, Basic Instinct became one of the most financially successful films of the 1990s.
# 5 - Blood Simple (1984) - Director brothers Joel and Ethan Coen and the cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld created this film with the plot following a Texas bar owner suspecting his wife of infidelity involving his fellow bartender.
# 4 - Red Rock West (1992) - It was directed by John Dahl with Nicolas Cage acting as Michael Williams - a drifter living out of his car after being discharged from the Marine Corps. Recently John Dahl directed an episode of The Vampire Diaries in 2009.
# 3 - L.A Confidential (1997) - Its based on the crime fiction novel and was produced and directed by Curtis Hanson and co-written by Hanson and Brian Helgeland.
# 2 - The Long Goodbye (1973) - It was directed by Robert Altman and unlike the novel that is set in the 1950's, the film is set in the 1970's reflecting the lifestyle and culture of Hollywood at that time.
# 1 - Chinatown (1974) - Director Roman Polanski and screenwriter Robert Towne teamed together to create the voted favourite. They raised the bar with this post-classic film noir with this film and was nominated for eleven, yes, eleven(!) Academy Awards. It is set in Los Angeles in 1937 and is about a  women who hires a Private Investigator to spy on her husband, who she blames adultery. As this neo-film has been voted the best, i think i may check it out if i have time! Bonne Lecture!