Review of The Killers (1946) by Michel G — 20 Mar 2010

An unusual and offbeat opening breaks normal story telling rules in all the right ways. Two ruthless killers come looking for the swede (Lancaster), an ex boxer, in a small town and he actually learns of their presence, but is so dispirited in life that he doesn't try to escape. He is killed. With our hero already dead without even putting up a fight, the backstory comes to life and a mystery unfolds. The story is intricate and interesting and the film ends with entertaining and fulfilling revelations.

This is a movie told through many flashbacks, but it manages to make this device work for the most part. Lancaster's sad and somehow always elegant delivery makes it impossible to dislike him no matter what he does. The word noir is thrown around a lot, but this movie's got it in all it's morbid romanticism.