Dark MatterMovie Reviews

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 49 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
16 Iffy for 16+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 70
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    Dark Matter, with its view of cutthroat politics and competing egos inside a university, is also laudable in its refusal to soft-pedal the viciously petty side of the academic fishbowl. Read full review

  • 60
    New York Daily News | Joe Neumaier

    Director Chen Shi-Zheng's film has a graceful energy, and three strong performances help make this serene drama - and its shocking conclusion - quietly moving. Read full review

  • 50
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    The final act of Dark Matter is grim but unconvincing, and the shortfall leaves an ugly, exploitive taste in your mouth. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety | Justin Chang

    Never fully succeeds in burrowing under its protagonist's skin, despite conspicuous effort. Read full review

  • 42
    Entertainment Weekly |

    Liu Ye is too inexpressive for his role's demands, and the movie doesn't build to his downfall: It just zaps itself there. Read full review

  • 40
    Salon.com | Andrew O'Hehir

    Dark Matter has neither the technical command of an art-house film nor the manufactured intensity of a grade-B thriller, yet it's also too cheap and dirty to feel like a Hollywood-scale drama. Read full review

  • 40
    Los Angeles Times |

    It is easy to see the film as two movies crammed together, neither of them being very good. Read full review

  • 40
    Austin Chronicle |

    It's hard to ask for juicier, or more timely, subject matter than high-pressure academic ambition turning violent, but to map the descent of a genius into madness isn't a task to be taken lightly. Read full review

  • 30
    Village Voice |

    First-time filmmaker Shi-Zheng Chen shows little aptitude for accurately transcribing the textures of human interaction; there's not a single credible performance here, not excluding Meryl Streep as a faculty Sinophile, doing that thing where she grinds every line through a gauntlet of tremulous inflections. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle |

    If only it weren't based on a true story. It might have been a good movie. Read full review

View more reviews for Dark Matter on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+ Indie drama offers mature teens food for thought.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that teens aren't likely to be clamoring to see this mature indie drama -- though if they do, its focus on the pressures of academia are likely to give them a lot to think about. A fictional take on a real-life tragedy, it includes mass murder and suicide. In addition to the violence, there are a few brief moments of frank sexuality and a bit of strong language ("s--t," one "f--k"), though it's not very frequent.
  • Families can talk about how the media depicts the pressures of school and academics. Do you think it's realistic? How are the pressures different between high school and college (or, as in this case, postgraduate work)? How do the issues that Liu is facing compare to the ones that have led teenagers to violent acts in high schools? Can you think of other movies that deal with similar themes or topics?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Streep's character is a well-off, well-intentioned woman whose interest in Chinese culture is portrayed as the vague affection of a silly tourist. Quinn's character takes advantage of his Chinese students; some of the students attend a church group, but it's clear they're only there for the snacks and social events; one of the students also steals cable. Quinn's character blocks his student's academic progress out of anger and spite.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence: A Western shootout fantasy sequence features "shooting" but no blood; there are also four realistic graphic murders, and a character commits suicide.
  • sex false3 Sex: A sexual encounter in a crowded rental flat is shielded by a blanket but still audible to the other residents; characters watch scrambled pornography and discuss the nature of female orgasm; brief shot of a naked back. A conference is described as featuring "Free booze, good food and beautiful -- albeit high-strung -- women." Chinese characters discuss the rumor that American teens are "doing it" by age 13. A scene between Streep and Liu has a sensually charged undertone.
  • language false3 Language: Language includes "bulls--t," "s--t," one non-sexual use of "f--k," and "bastard." A poorly translated toast comes out as "up the bottoms."
  • consumerism false0 Consumerism: Characters drink Heineken; no other visible brands.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Incessant cigarette smoking; cigars are smoked; characters drink hard liquor at social events; characters also drink beer while sunbathing.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

1.5

Dave White Profile See Dave White's Profile

Even Streep seems lost … Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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