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Movies / Upcoming / Dark Streets
Dark Streets

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Dark Streets (2008)

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Reviews Counted:34

Fresh:5

Rotten:29

Average Rating:3.8/10

Consensus: Dark Streets is a film noir musical that's too gimmicky for its own good.

Runtime: 84 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: An atmospheric film noir musical fantasy, Dark Streets tells the story of Chaz Davenport (Gabriel Mann), a dashing bachelor who owns what promises to become the hottest new nightclub in town—if... An atmospheric film noir musical fantasy, Dark Streets tells the story of Chaz Davenport (Gabriel Mann), a dashing bachelor who owns what promises to become the hottest new nightclub in town—if only the lights would stay on. Surrounded by the sumptuous blues music he adores, and with his pick of the gorgeous women who perform their sensual dance numbers onstage every night, Chaz is the envy of every man.

But with the city thrown into darkness by frequent blackouts and a menacing loan shark closing in, Chaz is in danger of losing the club—and far more. At the same time, he finds himself embroiled in a love triangle with the club’s alluring star singer, Crystal (Bijou Phillips), and a new arrival at the club—the mysterious and seductive chanteuse Madelaine (Izabella Miko).

When people close to Chaz begin turning up dead, he doesn’t know where to turn or whom to trust. And the harder he tries to uncover the truth, the further he’s drawn into the darkness of lies and betrayal—a darkness as black as the city’s streets during yet another power outage. Welcome to the Blues.

Directed by Rachel Samuels (The Suicide Club) from a screenplay by Wallace King, the film stars Gabriel Mann (The Bourne Supremacy), Bijou Phillips (Choke), Izabella Miko (Coyote Ugly), Elias Koteas (The Thin Red Line), Michael Fairman (Thirteen Days) and Toledo (Don’s Plum). The film is produced by Andrea Balen, Claus Clausen, Corina Danckwerts and Glenn M. Stewart; and executive produced 2 by Steffen Aumueller. The film’s rich blues score is composed by George Acogny (Blood Diamond), featuring BB King.

Dark Streets features 12 original songs written by James Compton, Tim Brown Tony DeMeur and Bijou Phillips. The film’s stylish and sultry dance numbers are choreographed by Keith Young (Rent) and performed by sensational underground performer Toledo and a stage full of L.A.’s most talented dancers. The Dark Streets soundtrack will be released by Atlantic Records in November 2008. [More]

Starring: Gabriel Mann, Bijou Phillips, Izabella Miko, Elias Koteas

Starring: Gabriel Mann, Bijou Phillips, Izabella Miko, Elias Koteas

Director: Rachel Samuels

Director: Rachel Samuels
Screenwriter: Wallace King
Producer: Glenn M. Stewart, Claus Clausen, Andrea Balen, Corina Dankwerts, Steffen Aumuller
Composer: George Acogny
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

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Reviews for Dark Streets

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
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According to its press kit, this is 'an atmospheric film noir musical fantasy,' 'a noir fever dream' and a 'blues-infused noir mystery.' If you suspect those are code words for 'pointless hooey,' you're right.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
12/12/08
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Lavishly styled but narratively lax.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Weekly | comment Comment
12/11/08
Josh Bell
Josh Bell
Las Vegas Weekly

So leaden and obvious it doesn't even work as camp.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
12/11/08
Geoff Berkshire
Geoff Berkshire
Metromix.com

Dark Streets lost me early, real early, like still-adjusting-my-eyes-in-a-dark-theater early: Welcome to the blues, growls the entertainer with the mohawk and the full-length ringmaster gown.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
12/12/08
Christopher Borrelli
Christopher Borrelli
Chicago Tribune

A film noir musical fantasy that falls flat due to a weak screenplay.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
12/16/08
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

If only I cared.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
12/12/08
Robert W. Butler
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star

The flimsy plot -- less a whodunit than an isn't-it-screamingly-obvious-that-that-guy-done-it! -- will have thriller fans singing the blues.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
12/10/08
Clark Collis
Clark Collis
Entertainment Weekly

The cast of lightweights come off as kids playing dress-up in their parents' old clothes.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
12/30/08
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

It's a lovingly souped-up incarnation of the film-noir look, contains well-staged and performed musical numbers, and has a lot of cigarettes, tough tootsies, bad guys and shadows. What it doesn't have is a story that pulls us along.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
12/11/08
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

So obsessed with mimicry it’s practically a tribute band of a movie.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
12/11/08
Tim Grierson
Tim Grierson
L.A. Weekly

This charmless fantasy tries to recapture the mix of hot jazz and cold cynicism that lit up Chicago, adding a dash of punk for good measure

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
12/11/08
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader

This misbegotten musical noir homage could have been written for Garrison Keillor’s Guy Noir sketch, and it mistakes shooting out of focus for stylishness.

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
12/10/08
Ben Kenigsberg
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out New York

Dark Streets has atmosphere coming out its ears, but not much going on between them.

comment Comment
12/12/08
Nathan Lee
Nathan Lee
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Viewers willing to give themselves to the serious playfulness and visuals will find their share of rewards in 'Dark Streets.'

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
12/12/08
Donald J. Levit
Donald J. Levit
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

I love musicals, but I'd be hard-pressed to recommend this curiosity.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
12/12/08
Lou Lumenick
Lou Lumenick
New York Post

Sophisticated elements rise above this murk - Toledo as the MC and music that is a serious contribution to the blues repertory.

Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com | comment Comment
12/14/08
Nora Lee Mandel
Nora Lee Mandel
Film-Forward.com

...an interesting and ambitious movie that succeeds in a small way as spectacle but fails as drama

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
12/12/08
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The roster of R&B artists heard on the soundtrack is impressive; the movie is not.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
12/15/08
John P. McCarthy
John P. McCarthy
Boxoffice Magazine

...an inventively made noir with a terrific sound track of 12 original songs. This might not be for everyone, but if you like noir it's one that shouldn't disappoint.

Full Review Source: Tolucan Times | comment Comment
12/12/08
Tony Medley
Tony Medley
Tolucan Times

Feebly mixing film noir and the old-time nightclub musical, Dark Streets could do with illumination in more ways than one.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/11/08
Rob Nelson
Rob Nelson
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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