Dark (2003) User Reviews

serves its purpose

[garyskito · 5/10 · 30 June 2006]

To tell the truth I only became interested in this movie because I saw the back cover displaying pictures of cycling sequences. The cycling plays a small though prominent role in the main character's life. I find that anyone could relate to Dark Freeman. Everyone has had a moment in their lives where they plateau. Nothing seems good enough and motivation towards everything runs low. This is exactly what Dark is going through. The scenes are very well directed and shot. Especially those cycling scenes. However , the story was a bit weak. There is a bit of a monotone throughout the beginning, but to my surprise it ended up displaying a nice moral of strength, commitment and dedication. Not the greatest movie in the world but if you have two hours to kill I wouldn't recommend against it.

It's OK when I take into consideration that this is the film makers first feature.

[subxerogravity · 6/10 · 30 October 2015]

At first I was not going to post a review to this movie, until I saw, what looks like the filmmaker himself posted a review and that inspired me to. Unfortunately, this review is not going to be that good.

I saw the poster on the cover of the DVD and I wanted to check it out. I too thought this would have more cycling in it, but that's not the case.

I actually can relate to what the main character, Dark is going through as a 21 year old college student from a not-so-great neighborhood, stuck between two worlds trying to find his purpose. I myself was this man in 2003 when the flick came out. Reminds of the movie Nebraska, which I liked, but I know people who loved it, because they relate more to the characters and the experience of the movie, like I can relate to Dark.

Even though, I get what Dark is going through, the narration of this story was not interesting enough for me. It was like getting on a roller coaster ride and going as high as you can go but never getting the free fall. Something would begin to happen and then it did not happen. The movie tried to be real to the day in the life, but this was not satisfying.

In all fairness to the filmmaker, who the DVD cover did advertise was doing his first film here, the command over his actors was amazing. A lot of the acting felt very natural and real. Plus it was shot well. I love the movement of the cameras, especially in what turned out to be a limiting cycling scenes.

Overall, it was a great first effort for a first timer, and I saw on this website that he did do at least one more film, and maybe I'll check that out to see if he got the narration down, but Dark did not click like I thought and hoped it would.

meh

[ajc-11 · 25 February 2006]

I thought a lot of the dialogue and acting of the movie was very natural and well-done, and I thought it captured the atmosphere of the South Side of Chicago pretty well. And this particular torn-between-two-worlds theme, in the chosen setting, was interesting and promising.

But unfortunately, the main theme of the movie just seemed juvenile: "I can't just go through life feeling sorry for myself over a disadvantaged life--I have a choice about how my life will end up!" Uhhh, yeah, that's what I went into the movie assuming, and so I couldn't even understand the main character's search for that epiphany. To make it worse, the voice-over narration from the main character was obtuse and kinda cheesy in the style of "I'm making metaphoric but deep statements here--listen up and have a zen moment." I don't really want to say it's a bad movie, but I was disappointed to the point of irritation.

Too loose

[ice ruby red · 4/10 · 6 May 2007]

I kept waiting to be drawn into some kind of plot, but that was a long wait... and wondering "What is this guy's problem? Is he mentally ill, on drugs, narcoleptic...?" Some of the actors exhibited acting talent, some were painfully lacking. Either the main character had no prior acting experience, or just came across as inexperienced to this viewer (and son). To be fair, he did seem to improve some in the second half of the film. The cinematography was nicely done; too bad the movie droned on, virtually missing the point. Suddenly, at the very end of the movie, a bit of story materialized -- and I mean suddenly! My son said "It's as if they were running out of time and decided to throw in a plot at the very end". (Spoiler alert): Was that a random victim, or was it his professor? Did he kill him or merely maim him (and if maim, how badly - and why wasn't the protagonist arrested?). Here is the message I gleaned from this movie: If you have issues and your life sucks, you can turn it all around by viciously assaulting someone on the street. In turn for your miraculous catharsis-via-crime, you are rewarded with a trip to Bermuda and a happier, better life. Unless that was the point of the movie, I think it missed the mark completely.

"dark" stand next to "Native Son" and "Catcher in the Rye" and be judged, fair enough.

[bullymost · 8/10 · 16 August 2007]

I am the filmmaker. This is my film, so without question I am biased beyond belief. But, I have to speak up, since negative reviews from non-qualified viewers seem to hold so much weight on this website. At the very least I want to give my film a fighting chance to find an audience who will appreciate this form of storytelling (not for everyone, not created for everyone). Much like I could play Mozart for 10 people on my block and 4 of them are not going to be able to stand it. I guess it's all about perception. Will Mozart now be considered obtuse and boring? Probably not. Mozart just happens to have the benefit of a hundred some odd years of good marketing. It is unfortunate that without the aid of a overwhelming marketing campaign, viewers come to a film with notions of what they think the film should be, not necessarily what the film is, the film's merit. So, I want to give you an idea of what "dark" is – If you delight in the lyricism of COMMON, THE ROOTS, MOS DEF, then you know the drill (These are Hip Hop artist in case you didn't know). If you've been captivated by the depth and understanding of ELLISON's - INVISIBLE MAN or the poetics of a JAMES BALDWIN passage or the beautiful simplicity of a CHINUA ACHEBE'S - THINGS FALL APART, this film is for you. If you are a follower of filmmakers like ALEJANDRO INARRITU or a JIM JARMUSCH, or perhaps you've heard the name OUSUMANE SEMBENE, this might be your flavor. If you've been intrigued by the oddities of such films as DONNIE DARKO, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, CITY OF GOD, STRANGER THAN PARADISE; not for the hype and circumstance or because you were told it was cool to "get" these films , simply as these films exist, then welcome. If you are a hater of ambition, then please just keep it moving. If you're world revolves around the tight circle of closed minds in the homogeneous universe that you suburb in, then by all means, this film will only incense you by it's hubris . Although I am the first to admit "dark" is not a perfect film, even if it were, this film would never be for you. That said, I hope this review is helpful for any fellow traveler in this world. Thank you.