Dark Thriller DVD - Mystery & Suspense for Movie Nights

By its cover, you might think that 'dark' is just another sweet love story, but it is so much more. Finally, a movie portrays the complexity of black life-- beyond the standard monoliths that is typical of black life on the movie screen. Its a coming of age story minus gun scenes and minus the typical buppy ensemble. Yes, it has its share of grit. Set on the gritty south side of Chicago, it is impossible to ignore the bleak and violent surroundings. Yet, the movie is not wholly about those surroundings, those surroundings set the stage, acting as a backdrop to understanding what 'dark' the man is all about. And yes, the buppy makes an appearance in this flick, but we are treated to a more complex, less glamourous portrayal. dark's themes are subtle, yet riveting and familiar. We root for dark because we know him in all his complexity and confusion-- a man caught between two worlds, neither of which seem to fulfill his dream. In one world on the south side of chicago, the streets call-- dark, hopeless and despairing. Yet his deepest ties are here-- family and childhood friends. In scenes that are often haunting flashbacks, we see these ties created, deepenend and sometimes severed. dark's roots are affirmed here while his often hypnotic and aloof appearances make it clear that this place is no longer home. In the other world, the halls of his predominantly white, ivy league university-- dark is just another black face fully described in the minds of his white professors before he ever opens his mouth. While clearly having the aptitude, he just can't find the motivation. The thing he yearns for-- self realization, the answers to the larger questions-- eludes him in both places. Broken and misunderstand, we watch dark's hasty spiral downward. Congratulations to actor Jason Bonner for an outstanding debut performance. He keeps viewers on the edge of their seat by so deftly displaying the complexity of his character. He is listless and confused and he is also a ticking time bomb. He is lonely and depressed and also angry and disengaging, his anger seemingly fueled further by his girlfriend's indelible sweetness. He is intelligent and articulate and also self destructive and unproductive. The ending is a treat, providing lure for a sequel. Congratulations to director D.A. Bullock, also for an outstanding debut. Movie-goers want more movies like his, which affirm the belief that movies can be both highly entertaining and highly intelligent. If you judge this film against others on a similar budget, 'dark' is easily a 5.