The Singing Detective (2003)

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Directed by Keith Gordon.

Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Robin Wright Penn, Mel Gibson.

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From director Keith Gordon (Mother Night, A Midnight Clear) comes this American feature adaptation of the 1986 BBC miniseries, The Singing Detective. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the big-screen for the first time since 2000's Wonder Boys as Dan Dark, a novelist who is hospitalized with a severe case of psoriasis. As he lays in bed, Dark hallucinates that he is actually a World War II-era private dick embroiled in an oddball web of mystery, intrigue, and musical numbers. Written by the late Dennis Potter (Pennies From Heaven, Gorky Park) and co-starring Mel Gibson, Robin Wright Penn, Katie Holmes, and Adrien Brody, The Singing Detective premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

Re:TOP 5 MOVIES TO TEACH AN ALI ...
by Risselada in Filmgaming

loved it.

"1. The 7 Up series. Ok, I haven't even seen it all yet, but so far it seems to say more about humanity, it's journey, it's internal and outward struggles and joys more than anything else. 2. Planet Earth. Let's not be so conceited to only present them with HUMAN life on earth. Of course David Attenborough's narration will reveal our penchant for hyperbole. 3. The Singing Detective. Here we get the exploration of a character's self throughout his entire life. We see how the events of his life are like a mystery when trying to look through his memory for clues as to the way he is. Isn't this search the goal of all good art? And we get to see how art informs life and back again. We get some good meta-fiction and a portrayal of several different genres as genres inform our lives. Musicals, film noir, mystery, drama, comedy, all of it. And I named the American version instead of the original because it is great, and not just so I could break my trend of series that have come f ... " [More]

Mel Gibson
by van in Dish Me Up Some

hasn't rated it.

"Person: Mel Gibson, Greatest Work: The Patriot, Braveheart, What Women Want, Lethal Weapon Quads, Conspiracy Theory, Apocolypto, The Passion of Christ, Ransom just to name a few, Gossip: Just wondering, for all you Mel Gibson fans out there what do you propose is going through his mind these days. While I will deliberately not comment on allegations that deal with religion and race, he certainly appears worn and dethroned in recents years. He has experienced such success both in front of and behind the camera, yet he is photographed in filthy foreign dives, obviously of various levels of intoxication but he has let his appearance even in rare respectable sitings go to the point of barely recognizable. I do not attempt to understand how or if people hit early, mid or late life crises, but shouldn't he be scuttling along to vacations spots on private jets, with his large family or even a gorgeous girlfriend (if so he choses) instead of sporatically popping up at establishme ... " [More]

Re: Top 5 Tear Jerking Scenes
by Risselada in Top 5

loved it.

"Wow nice. Thanks for the insights.Yes I definitely know what you mean by being with certain company. I actually watched The Singing Detective with exactly the type of company who LOVED it! Very weird but literate folks, who love strange humor and meta-ficiton. Of course they are my best friends so I think there's a reason for that. I like that kind of thing too! " [More]

Re: Top 5 Tear Jerking Scenes
by Risselada in Top 5

loved it.

"Two from Keith Gordon eh? I've only seen one film of his. The excellent American adaptation of The Singing Detective and it's one of my absolute favorite films. I guess I should seriously check out his other stuff. Have you seen The Singing Detective? Which other one would you recommend first? " [More]

Re: Top 5 Movies About Music
by Risselada in Filmspotting

loved it.

"I'm not sure why everyone always makes these self imposed rules like "no bio pics" and such.First of all it's hard to pick movies about music because movies themselves almost ARE music. Music is certainly the closest artform to film.I'm just going to do a search for keyword "music" on IMDB for movies I rated and pick the ones that seems the most relevent.The Singing Detective. A great mini-series and a great film. The film took what was fundamentally British in the miniseries and found the American equivalent. Wow this movie is dense and beautiful. I've found out that the musicals I like that most are ones that don't have original music but use prexisting familiar music in a way to inform or contrast the themes of it's particular story.Amadeus. There's no reason this movie shouldn't count. It's just too good.The Ruling Class. Another great British film to use prewritten music to amazing darkly comic and profound effect.The Hole. This is ... " [More]

Re: Top Neo-Noir
by Risselada in Top 5

loved it.

"1. Fargo, 1996. Definitely Neo-Noir, although doesn't conform to your description in one way. I think Marge is fundamentally through and through "good". Most Coen brothers films have a neo noir feel like their first film Blood Simple. Miller's Crossing and The Man Who Wasn't There are almost classic noir. 2. Reservoir Dogs, 1992. I'd say this counts. I'm surprised you didn't say Pulp Fiction, SkyPilot, as I thought it was your favorite film. Do you not consider that neo-noir? 3. Who Framed Roger Rabbit, 1988. Actually very well written, constructed, and played out as a classic detective film noir film. Even set in the right era. It's a clash between this dark gritty noir reality with the zany cartoon reality that emphasises the qualities of each. If each reality were not done right, it wouldn't work. 4. The Singing Detective, 2003. I find this movie so complex and amazing, it is too overwhelming for me to try to describe it. I'll try to say something though. It use ... " [More]

Tags: detective , disease , dream , murder , fever
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