The Darker Image

Hollywood is a volatile industry and one sentiment that has been in vogue since 2002, is that "darker" is better. The term "dark" in the case is meant to be fairly ambiguous but usually revolves around anger, realistic explosions and gray skies. However the ambiguous definition has lent itself to false advertising, unfulfilled promises and another contributor to hackneyed laziness, even within a minority of the film-making community.

The human psyche is geared to be light-centric. As a species, we thrive during the day and have for millions of years. Similarly, sun is (or was) recognized globally as the bringer of life. Nighttime is when human lose the advantage. It becomes cold and dangerous. Animals and monsters come out at night. Other creatures and trouble lay waiting in poorly lit caves. It is this discomfort with darkness that is being tapped into by "dark" stories, or at least the descriptor "dark" strikes a certain unsettling connotation.

But "dark" is just a style. "Dark" does not improve the directing, writing or acting. "Dark" does not make a more enjoyable movie and, to more contention, it does not make a smarter movie. A smarter movie, for my purpose, could be synonymous with a more artistic movie. Artistic, to clarify, broadly meaning a movie that has more beneath the surface. An artistic/smart movie has a unique perspective on life and begs audiences to develop a new perspective on reality--indifferent to whether or not it is in line with the movie's overt narrative.

Obviously the idea of an artistic movie, like most categorization, is best served on a hypothetical spectrum. Similarly, judging the realism and entertainment of a film is best thought of on a spectrum, not just "yes" or "no." Also, none of these categories are mutually exclusive. Some movies are smart and entertaining, some are neither. But a movie does not become smarter or more enjoyable if its color is desaturated. Similarly, I don't agree that a movie becomes more financially profitable for having quasi-dark qualities.

Was CASINO ROYALE darker than DIE ANOTHER DAY? Yes. And it revitalized the James Bond franchise by most accounts. Was QUANTUM OF SOLACE darker than CASINO ROYALE? Yes. And it was a travesty, critically and financially. QUANTUM OF SOLACE failed because it was an immobile story acted out by Neutrals of the Neutral Planet who were directed by a paint can shaker. And to beat a dead horse (as seen in a dark movie), THE DARK KNIGHT didn't owe it's unbelievable success to a high body count, scarred cheeks and a new Bat Suit.

So no, I don't care if they promise the next IRON MAN movie will be "darker." Anybody can furrow their eyebrows. What I want is a promise that the movie, and any other movies boasting a "dark" vision, will offer me something new visually, intellectually or emotionally. Until then, well, they can take their movies and shove them where the sun don't shine.