If you're going to read one hard-boiled detective story, it should probably be this one (though in my opinion, Red Harvest is tighter and more suspenseful, though less iconic). Everything here has become cliche by now, but it is executed perfectly. Hammet's writing style also deserves more credit--it's so punchy and to the point, perfectly delivering quips and sudden action with little fuss. 
 I'd actually seen the movie awhile back, but somehow forgot the details of the plot, so it was nice to carried along by the twists and turns. The Falcon itself also functions both as the perfect Macguffin and a kind of commentary on the nature of these objects. 
 My only complaint would probably be that the book's treatment of women is archaic at best. Brigid's character as the femme fatale is pretty good, but literally every female character spends her time flinging herself at Sam. And he doesn't treat them very well either, but I guess that's part of his character.