The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective Image
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Metascore
45 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Mel Gibson, Robert Downey Jr., Robin Wright
  • Summary: The story of a crime novelist (Downey Jr.) who, languishing in his hospital bed, occupies his time by mapping out a screenplay in his head about a cynical private investigator who doubles as a singer in a dance band. (Paramount Classics)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 33
  3. Negative: 4 out of 33
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    The movie does not propose to be a comedy, a musical, a film noir story or a medical account. It proposes to be a subjective view of suffering, and the ways this character tries to cope with it. Understand that, and the pieces fall into place.
  2. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    60
    It’s powerful, all right, and Downey’s performance is lacerating, but missing is any sense of lyricism in Dark’s hallucinatory yearnings. Without that leap of transcendence, this new Singing Detective doesn’t sing.
  3. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not credited)
    60
    A genuinely brilliant cast--Robin Wright Penn and Katie Holmes are especially notable--distinctive camerawork, and terrific art design all contribute to this unique blend of fantasy and reality that truly transports the viewer to a magical realm.
  4. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    38
    See not only the original "Detective" but the Steve Martin-Bernadette Peters film "Pennies From Heaven." If you insist on giving Downey and company $8 instead, you'll be getting wooden nickels from Hell.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. AndrewR.
    9
    Crazy mental trip.

See all 4 User Reviews

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