Noir can be a tricky genre to get "right." Too much style and you lose out on all the wonderful storytelling the genre can give, and too much verbosity can drain the life out of it. Media Res walks this balance excellently. The movie looks awesome for its budget, and the actors bring it in classic noir fashion. Also refreshing? This isn't another alcoholic hard boiled private eye noir story, It's a grounded tale about a flawed man in way over his head who's just trying to do the right thing, although maybe not in the right way. It's a story that feels very current and real, with just enough flavor and theatricality to push it squarely in the film noir pantheon. it's funny, sharp, honest and, like any good story, it ends in tears. Seek out and support independent cinema. Artists like the ones who made Media Res deserve to keep telling their stories.