A Simple Plan

Finding money out of nowhere and then having it backfire is a tired and overused plot. It has been used in fiction, movies, and even games. However, this movie took a strange twist. Usually during movies like this, whenever more than one person finds a bag of money, they fight to the death for it. The characters of Hank, Jacob, Sarah and Lou change this.

Although almost everyone dies over the money, the characters of Hank and Jacob are the point of interest. Hank and Jacob form an alliance, without Lou. They work together instead of the "every man for himself" concept that is usually portrayed in these plots. Brotherly love is also a new addition to this. Hank never betrays Jacob either, Hank is forced to shoot him. 

A femme fatal is also something I have not seen in a rags to riches plot. Sarah, a strange addition, wants Hank to just take all of the money and run. I wonder if she was put in to force Hank to stay(the baby), or if she was just there to make him more evil.

Also, every plot like this usually has the idiot that they pin the blame on. Lou takes that position. Usually it backfires with the idiot getting all the money, or something ridiculous. However, Sam Raimi decides to kill him off, along with his wife. 

Who is Sammy Jenkins?

Sammy Jenkins is a pivotal character in the movie, allowing for exposition and insight for Leonard's illness and character. But who is he really?
It is my belief that Sammy Jenkins is Leonard. After all, the movie has so many different possibilities. Leonard could be faking his own illness, Teddy could be lying, and Natalie could have even stolen the money.
Several times throughout the film, Nolan decides to interchange Leonard's character with Sammy. One instance was during a flashback where Sammy was in a hospital; Leonard was soon imprinted over him. This happens again at the end, in which Teddy tries to tell the truth, and Leonard replaces Sammy in a flashback. This leads me to believe that Leonard's brain safeguarded him by creating a new identity. He couldn't deal with the fact that he killed his wife, so why not put the blame on someone else?
Teddy also repeatedly states throughout the film that Leonard is not really Leonard. It's who he "used" to be. This suggests that Leonard has gone through several identity changes. Perhaps each time he remembers what he did to his wife, he repeatedly makes a new persona. This is also further proved by Leonard stealing John G's clothes. Leonard states, "I'd rather be mistaken for a dead man than a killer."
If Leonard wasn't Sammy Jenkins, then what is the point of his inclusion? The only thing I can think of would be to remember his illness, yet Leonard remembers the incident, which is what gave him his illness in the first place.

Sway

As I was watching Dark City, I noticed some parts that seemed to have no actual significance to the plot. One of these scenes was Jennifer Connelly singing. At first, it seemed to just introduce the character; just showing that she's a singer. However, after thinking for awhile, I realized it held much more significance.
Connelly's first rendition is the song, "Sway". This song tells of a dance between two people, swaying along to the music. Connelly's lyrics are, "Bend with me, sway with ease. When we dance you have a way with me. Sway with me." This alludes to the relationship between the Strangers and the denizens of the dark city. The Strangers have the city in their grasp, swaying and playing around with it.  The people are their playthings without them really knowing it. People are just swaying along with the Stranger's needs.
Next, Connelly sings, "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes." This one is a lot more obvious. Its an allusion to whats actually going on in the city. The "thousand eyes" refer to the Strangers and how they are watching everything going on. Since the city is always dark, people are watching constantly. Every move, every action, all are recorded and studied.

Film Noir

While I have heard of the genre before, film noir is something I have never experienced. I've know its themes and how it usually deals with gangsters. However, I've never watched any film noir.
The Asphalt Jungle is my first venture into the genre. Honestly, I like it. The characters are likable, and its black and white nature adds to its grittiness. Although the acting is a little strange and I can't understand anything the Doc says, I think it has its own niche.
The characters are among my favorites from any film we have watched so far. Emmerich, though a bad guy who double-crosses the Doc and Dix, is given sympathy at the final moments before his arrest. He knows he's going to get whisked off to jail, yet plays cards with his wife. He could easily leave her behind and escape, yet doesn't. Also when the police come to his escort's house to arrest him, he tells her to tell them the truth. He's letting her off even though a statement from her could have helped his case.
The Doc is given a sympathetic moment as well. Right before he gets arrested, he gives a teenage girl several nickels. While it could be argued that he did it for his own perversion, I'd like to think that he did it to do something good before he got caught.
Even Dix has our sympathy. Throughout the film, Dix repeatedly refuses to even casually converse with Doll(?). By the end, he lets her join him in his escape. I also suspect that the director will work in a romantic scene right before Dix dies or gets caught.