Dark Streets
Metascore
38 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 13
  3. Negative: 3 out of 13
view
per page
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Clark Collis
    58
    Alas, 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.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    The kind of film you can appreciate as an object, but not as a story. 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, or a hero who seems as compelling as some of the supporting characters.
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    50
    I love musicals, but I'd be hard-pressed to recommend this curiosity, sort of a shoestring version of Francis Ford Coppola's "The Cotton Club."
  4. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Don R. Lewis
    50
    The type of film I would call eternally frustrating. Boasting a solid cast and an amazing look, the film is a mishmash of film noir, mystery and bluesy big band song and dance numbers that on a surface level play brilliantly.
  5. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Sam Adams
    50
    The movie, drawn from Wallace King's adaptation of Glenn Stewart's play, drips with style, but it's all flourish and no reveal.
  6. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: M. E. Russell
    42
    The script is just all kinds of terrible. The characters are hollow mannequins telling a thin, depressing story that's less of a noir and more of a simple-minded bummer full of barely connected scenes and stunningly empty dialogue.
  7. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    42
    The main pitfall of modern noirs is that filmmakers get so caught up in the chiaroscuro lighting schemes and florid twists of dialogue and voiceover that they forget noir was about expressing more than just attitude and style.
  8. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Tim Grierson
    40
    The film has its shallow pleasures, but once it becomes obvious that that's all Dark Streets has going for it, the affected performances and forced tough-guy speak stop feeling playful and start to become oppressive.
  9. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Nathan Lee
    40
    Diverting enough as a series of music videos, Dark Streets strikes postures in place of drama.
  10. Variety
    Reviewed by: Rob Nelson
    40
    As a dancing chanteuse, Bijou Phillips gives it her all, which isn't enough, and a wooden Mann doesn't help, although Izabella Miko brings a modicum of unaffected charm to her role as the Other Woman.
  11. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Josh Rosenblatt
    30
    Let no one ever say that Dark Streets doesn't have the perfect title. It may not be much more than a stylized regurgitation of creaky film-noir clichés and crime-fiction conventions … but its streets are undeniably dark.
  12. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Christopher Borrelli
    25
    Dark Streets lost me early, real early, like still-adjusting-my-eyes-in-a-dark-theater early.
  13. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Travis Nichols
    25
    Pretentious mess of a movie.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. JP.
    0
    Pretty, good blues and no coherent movie at all. Impossible to sit through if you are capable of leaving.
  2. JayH.
    5
    The film is so obsessed with style and atmosphere, it forgot to add a good story and characters with depth. It did try for believable period detail, but failed for the most part. Great music at least.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »