4/5 A Bluesy Slice Of Neo-Film Noir
  by Alfred Johnson (boston, ma)
Admittedly it is tough, very tough to make a modern film noir in color that gives that gritty feel of something like Bogart and Bacall in the 1940s classic age of film noir in the "Big Sleep". And this small film doesn't try to do that. However, its does have a very bluesy feel to it as advertised. The plot line is a familiar one of a good guy (here in the guise of a debt-ridden nightclub owner dealing with his father's mysterious death) of greed , intrigue and treachery, in this case involving the nefarious doings of covering up a crime in the process of cornering the electric market of an obviously corrupt and wide open city (and state). The dialogue is also somewhat stilted. One would think that such a combination calls for a thumbs down. Not so. Why? Go back to that bluesy feel. From the two fetching femme fatale torch singers who vie for said night club owner's attentions, to the chorus girls doing, well doing their thing, to the black dancer/singer/narrator who holds the whole thing together (and puts on amazing Michael Jackson-like song and dance performances to boot). And here's the topper- a sound track with the likes of Etta James and Doctor John in the back. My friends, this is a no-brainer in these quarters.


4/5 A Fantasy Film
  by Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas)
"Dark Streets"

A Fantasy Film

Amos Lassen

New Orleans in 1930's is the setting of "Dark Streets". Chaz Davenport (Gabriel Mann) has a big heart and he used it to help open up a new nightclub. The Tower. However things are not going to well. There are lots of bills and the dancers are fighting. To make it even worse, Chaz's late father Arthur disinherited him and the company lawyer was killed in an automobile accident.
A cop, "the Lieutenant" (Elias Koteas), introduces Chaz to Madelaine. Because she can sing, the other dancers at the club become a tad upset and Chaz gets rid of his lead singer, Crystal (Bijou Philips). Things get even darker when Darlene, another of Chaz's dancers is killed in an alley behind the club and the bathroom attendant's throat is slit. Suddenly the atmosphere changes drastically.
Everyone in the film save Chaz has a hidden agenda. Chaz turns to his uncle for help and things get even weirder and that is all I can say about the plot.
The director, Rachel Samuels gives us a look at the world of the 30's and her characters are both fascinating and diverse. This is an exceptionally dark film and it is photographed that way. There is a lot of atmosphere but not much going on. It is a film noir musical that offers a visual feast along with fine acting. There is a lot of music and the plot seems to fall into the backdrop as music comes forward. It is not so much a narrative but more of a musical exercise in the blues.