28 Comments
User's avatar
Juantastico's avatar

It's always going to be Blade Runner (director's cut, 1992). He starts with a search for missing replicants designed by a bio-tech corporation (think Musk x1000), and it turns into an unintended investigation of what it means to be human. Absolutely gorgeous cinematography and soundtrack as well.

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

Don’t think I’ve seen the directors cut. What’s the difference

Expand full comment
Juantastico's avatar

The original has a narration that runs over/in addition to the spoken script.

Harrison Ford hated it. I've watched it, and it's quite awful if you've only ever experienced the director's cut. Harrison went up to meet the guy doing the narration one day. The narrator was in a little room by himself with a type-writer, and when Harrison stepped into the room just to say hello, the narrator waved him away without even turning around to recognize him, as if Harrison's input would be an after-thought.

The ending is very different as well, with the director's cut giving a sudden sense of finality to it all vs the original cut that sprawls into some sort of Hollywood induced happiness/ indefinite future that only exists from borrowing film leftovers from the beginning scene of The Shining (which is a weird way to exhibit positive vibes).

Expand full comment
Parker McCoy's avatar

I think I'd have to go with the Maltese Falcon. It's 1940s noir starring one of the best actors of all-time in a movie that broke him out. You can't trust any character in it and they are quirky and weird and funny and the whole thing winds up being absurd. I love every minute. Great question.

Expand full comment
Jonathan Fletcher's avatar

While I am quite enamored with Blade Runner as well, I really think the hilarious “Fletch” is a standout.

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

Which Fletch is your favorite

Expand full comment
Jonathan Fletcher's avatar

The first one. One of the few really funny movies that Chase starred in.

Expand full comment
booklady's avatar

I always loved Dana Andrews in “ Laura”.

Expand full comment
booklady's avatar

I think 1944, but technically he played a detective , not a PI.

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

What year is that?

Expand full comment
Jess's avatar

The Last Boy Scout

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

Love Shane black

Expand full comment
Kevin's avatar

Who framed Roger rabbit?

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

Mine too

Expand full comment
NotFromTexas's avatar

For what would be considered as modern cinema for its time, "Chinatown" is the gold standard, as is, "The Maltese Falcon" for its time.

I'm with Clint (CCCV) for, "Angel Heart", and I would add the following:

"Murder On The Orient Express" (1974)

"The Pale Blue Eye" with Christian Bale

...and just for fun, "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid".

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

What did you think of the recent remake of Murder on the Orient Express

Expand full comment
NotFromTexas's avatar

Honestly, not a fan — I'm just not big on remakes...

Expand full comment
DarkSkyBest's avatar

The Big Sleep. Bogart at his sweatiest. And, Murder, My Sweet. Dick Powell, former crooner, does a great job.

But one of my favorites, that has a cop as the focus —- The Big Heat. Check it out.

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

Thanks for the recommendation

Expand full comment
Paul's avatar

There are the classics of course but I’ve always had a certain fondness for Gumshoe starring Albert Finney as a north of England bingo caller with a love of Hammet who decides to advertise himself as a PI in a local newspaper. Loved it when I saw it as a boy living in the north of England seeing the beats & tropes of the great American PI novels and films translated to a time & place I lived in. Watched again recently and it’s a great nearly forgotten movie.

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

I’ll have to add it to my watchlist

Expand full comment
Nate Miller's avatar

Dick Tracy

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

One of my favorite movies

Expand full comment
Clint (CCCV)'s avatar

Since you literally listed my two favorites in your intro (Nicholson’s and Bogart’s PIs), I’ll give a few that aren’t as predictable or recognized, mayhap: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Downey Jr and Val Kilmer); Inherent Vice (Joaquin Phoenix—very strange, unique but very good). Further back: Klute; Angel Heart!

Expand full comment
Chris Mann's avatar

That’s a great list

Expand full comment
Clint (CCCV)'s avatar

You honor me, sir. (And can’t believe I forgot The Long Goodbye w/Elliot Gould—legendary!)

Expand full comment
Clint (CCCV)'s avatar

I know you said favorite, singular, but I’m apparently incapable of that 😬

Sorry!

Expand full comment