I thought I had seen it, but if I did only the jewelry shop heist and Busey's death looked familiar. But having just read the novel I was forced to watch it. Well, being shot in California it is a noir with little noir, but the story is noir for sure. The story of the novel, which is surely one of the best crime novel with just a little bit of verbosity I'd gladly do without, but still a 8/10, probably even more. The movie takes up the main element of the plot (the author contributed to the screenplay and does a bit part) but it must leave much off. Characters, plot turns and of course what motivates the narrator. Probably, if I hadn't read the novel, I'd give the movie a higher rate than 7/10. But this is a must see anyway.