Directed by Keith Gordon
Written by Dennis Potter
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Robin Wright Penn, and Mel Gibson
This movie was a lot darker than the trailer led me to believe. The Singing Detective takes us inside the mind of Dan Dark, a detective novelist who blurs the lines between reality and fantasy while hospitalized for a skin disorder.
Robert Downey Jr gives a great performance as always, although there is much more depth to his characterization when in “reality”. The film leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and we all know that I am a fan of ambiguity in films, so that was a major plus. The trailer led me to expect a madcap romp, and while The Singing Detective doesn’t skimp on the laughs, the film makes you think. A lot. I’m going to need some more time to digest it. It wasn’t the best film I’ve seen this week so far, but I would still give it three stars. If stars count for anything.