More of a postmodern deconstruction of the genre rather than a "classic" noir (kinda like what "Once Upon A Time In The West" did to western flicks), this thing doesn't even try to give its main protagonist any redeeming qualities - a teflon-coated cynical bastard answering only to his own whims and quite a contrast to the morally questionable yet generally well-meaning, broken and disillusioned rather than indifferent characters inhabiting most of earlier film noir. You could argue that makes it a rather empty genre flick devoid of humanity, although i'd say that's actually part of its style-over-substance appeal. You can't argue with its stylistic influence on future filmmakers though, stretching from the french new wave all the way to early Tarantino.