Part 2 of a pair of superbly suburban-set reflections on the noir style.

Double billing Blue Velvet with Fargo was serendipitously perfect, in that both films take the primarily urban and cynical (borderline nihilistic) style of film noir and bring it to cozily Midwestern or small town suburban settings with cheekily naive characters, not just to revive noir itself, but to re-examine and reevaluate this type of artistry, to transfigure and make their own contributions to the style. Fargo’s contribution…

Atonement doesn’t beg for perspective as much as it demands it. Not in an ostentatious way, but in an impressively graceful manner that simply proves why it deserves your attention, and why it can and should change how you give your attention. It provides that coveted 20-20 hindsight in real time, provides the behind-the-scenes documentary as the show is being put on, takes the parts of our lives that have unsung rhythm… and sings it.

Does it look like anything…