Film Noir

Film Noir (literally 'black film or cinema') was coined by French film critics who noticed the trend of how 'dark' and black the looks and themes were of many American crime and detective films released in France following the war.
Very often, a film noir story was developed around a cynical, hard-hearted, disillusioned male character who encountered a beautiful but promiscuous, amoral, double-dealing and seductive femme fatale. She would use her feminine wiles and come-hither sexuality to manipulate him into becoming the fall guy - often following a murder. After a betrayal or double-cross, she was frequently destroyed as well, often at the cost of the hero's life.
Usually, the male protagonist in film noir wished to elude his mysterious past, and had to choose what path to take or have the fateful choice made for him.

My friend J is a hard-hearted and disillusioned male who is constantly manipulated by irresistible but amoral female characters. I keep telling him to watch a film noir cause his life is just like one, only without the murders. He can’t stand black ‘n white films he says. I love them.