This is Philip Marlowe, who is the blueprint for the "hardboiled" archetype. I haven't seen it but the most iconic film is 1946's The Big Sleep, where he's played by Humphrey Bogart.
What are the best detective films based on books? Don't worry about including super famous movies, I'm doing this to resolve my decision paralysis.
Any subgenre, time period, or language is fine. I'd prefer stuff based on novel series but standalone novels are okay too.
If it's a book that has a lot of adaptations, like The Hound of the Baskervilles, please include a release year.
What are the best detective shows based on books?
Any subgenre is fine, as is any release date or language. Episodic and arc-based are both fine.
Also go ahead and suggest super famous shows, this is mostly to get over my decision paralysis. I'm gonna watch the one that gets the most upvotes.
Premise: After killing the man who whipped his father to death, Pancho Villa becomes a bandit. Years later, he's inspired to fight in the Mexican Revolution to take down the aristocracy for good.
Review: I understand that this was nominated for Best Picture but it did not age well. For starters, the film tells more than it shows, with most of the battles being either discussed afterwards or described in text crawls. It tries to make Pancho morally complex, but instead it ping-pongs between depicting him as a charming antihero, a thuggish rapist, and a borderline child. Add in a highly annoying reporter character and this is a film you should skip.
Premise: Two outlaws rob trains in the wild west. The train company sets a posse of bounty hunters after our antiheroes, prompting them to escape to Bolivia.
Review: Buddy films live and die on the chemistry of their leads, and luckily Paul Newman and Robert Redford have chemistry in spades. William Goldman's script makes every interaction a treat to watch, both in and out of the action. Said action is also solid, with the climactic gunfight culminating in one of the most iconic final shots in film. All in all, this film's an undisputed classic well worth your time.
Premise: Billy the Kid leads an outlaw band in avenging the murder of their mentor.
Review: This movie kicks absolute ass. The protagonists have perfect chemistry, and you can tell the actors are having a great time.The film has a punk-rock vibe that sets it apart from most westerns, and adds to the high-octane action sequences. Meanwhile, the soundtrack perfectly mixes rock and country. If you're curious about westerns this is a solid starting point.