1. Dark City
If you like a big dose of sci-fi with your film noir, or the other way around, you cant do much better than Alex Proyas 1998 Dark City, which was the late Roger Eberts favourite film of 1998. The film begins with John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) waking up in a bathtub, which no knowledge of who he is or how he got there. Murdoch also discovers the body of a dead prostitute. He soon finds himself hunted by the police, most notably Inspector Frank Bumstead (William Hurt), and learns he has a wife named Emma (Jennifer Connelly). Sewell makes a solid and appealing film noir lead While the set up of a man with amnesia attempting to discover his past is familiar, theres a lot more lurking under the plot Dark City, including the mysterious strangers who can change the city at will, and who are experimenting with changing peoples memories and identities, aided by Dr. Daniel Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland) Side note: its funny seeing Sutherland three years before playing Jack Bauer on 24, playing such a snivelling character. The strangers conduct these experiments to discover what it means to be human. Theres also the matter of Murdoch sharing the telekinetic like the strangers. Dark City is a great exploration of how memory defines us as and asks if its possible to forge your own identity even without knowledge of your past. It also asks, much like the strangers, what it means to be human. It ultimately comes to the conclusion that the strangers were approaching the question too mathematically- without any emotion. The answer lies not in the mind- but in the soul. Its also a visual treat. Proyas, along with production designers Patrick Tatopoulos and George Liddle, creates a virtually timeless setting, a city- and a world- thats always night. Cinematographer Dariusz Wolki wonderfully conveys an old fashioned noir atmosphere. I love how Proyas begins in noir and slowly builds up the sci-fi elements throughout, leading to an amazing climax. Dark City asks its audience to go along with many bizarre and unexplained elements upfront, particularly in the Directors Cut- but if youre patient and willing to go along with Proyas vision, Dark City is a rewarding and entertaining gem of a film.