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About this quote

What does it mean?
Kael suggests that the allure of film noir is so strong it becomes an addiction for both subjects and directors, leading to endless imitations.
In plain terms
The style of film noir is so captivating it becomes an addiction that drives directors to copy it.
What can you take from it?
Imitation becomes repetitive when a style turns into an obsession.

Where it applies

  • film criticism
  • genre analysis
  • director studies

Putting it to work

  • critique genre repetition
  • analyze director motivations
  • study film history

Questions to consider

  • Why do certain styles become addictive to creators?
  • Does imitation limit artistic growth?

Another view

Not all noir films are imitations; some are original works within the genre.

More from Pauline Kael

  1. What's disgusting about the Dirty Harry movies is that Eastwood plays this angry tension as righteous indignation.

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  2. If there is any test that can be applied to movies, it's that the good ones never make you feel virtuous.

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  3. Since I have an aversion to movies in which people say grace at the dinner table (not to the practice but to how movies use it to establish the moral strength …

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