The defence The Big-Idea Head
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
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The Naked City
Crime · Mystery · Thriller · 1948
After a former model is drowned in her bathtub, Detective James Halloran and Lieutenant Dan Muldoon attempt to piece together her murder.
Movie details
The Naked City
“The soul of a city. Her glory stripped! Her passion bared!”
1948 Crime · Mystery · Thriller 1h 36m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
7.2 / 10
Community rating
After a former model is drowned in her bathtub, Detective James Halloran and Lieutenant Dan Muldoon attempt to piece together her murder.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Naked City?
For the defence
The Big-Idea Head
“You watch with your brain, not your gut.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Righteous Kill
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Jules Dassin
Written by
Malvin Wald · Albert Maltz
Barry Fitzgerald
Lt. Dan Muldoon
Howard Duff
Frank Niles
Dorothy Hart
Ruth Morrison
Don Taylor
Jimmy Halloran
Frank Conroy
Captain Donahue
Ted de Corsia
Willy Garzah
House Jameson
Dr. Lawrence Stoneman
Court is in session
Put The Naked City on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.