Dark Matter

R

Released Apr 11, 2008

1 hr. 26 min.

Drama

List

41%

41 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Liu Xing (Ye Liu), a promising Chinese doctoral candidate accepted into an elite astronomy program in the United States, struggles to adjust to life in his new home. Xing finds an unlikely friend in university donor Johanna Silver (Meryl Streep) and a willing mentor in acclaimed professor Jacob Reiser (Aidan Quinn). But, when Xing's groundbreaking research begins to contradict Reiser's famed theories, Xing finds his dissertation derailed and his career in science speedily spiraling downward.

Read More

Read Less

Apple TV

Rent Dark Matter on Apple TV, or buy it on Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

The creaky plotting, inscrutable characters, and unconvincing ending make it difficult for audiences to connect with Dark Matter.

Read Critics Reviews

Gloria M

I'll take the unpopular risk of saying I think (and willing to risk my non-existent reputation here) that _Dark Matter_ is both powerful and made with a sweeping artistry. Note the small sample of opinions saying otherwise. The film was held up and had a very limited release. Did you know that? Only 41 reviewers were on this site (if that) before me, saying they mainly couldn't understand _Dark Matter_. Dear Problem Solvers--don't give up so easily. There were metaphors like the "ghost of a staircase" only existing in paint on a derelict building's wall near the end of the film that was a jaw-dropper. Different films have different ways of communicating. I think that saying characters are "inscrutable" as someone did means that the person making this statement may wish to revisit the film and also get a bit more acquainted with the subtle but powerful clues throughout. Hopefully these comments of encouragement will help. My guess is that _Dark Matter_ will rise as a cult classic and then an all-around "how did we miss the boat on this film?" In science and science fiction we use multi-factorial trends. Hey, I could be wrong in this "other take" on _Dark Matter_, but rather than proving I am right or something--highly unlikely in this setting--I am just asking film-loving people to give the film a second look. Another tip: in some cultures white is the color of death, not black. Clues and filmic "Easter Eggs" are throughout the film. Check the music credits at the end. These are also eye-opening when you go back to re-watch _Dark Matter_knowing what was there,making ironic and satirical comments under the action, just below conscious level. Enjoy, problem solvers. (You know who you are.) Does this help anyone? Hope so.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Dark Matter is about major illusions, great expectations and an extremely vivid imagination, which become a dark void only you can see. That's what can happen when the student has come further than the professor, and there's an additional cultural gap and solid dose of Jante law at play. All this issues are present in this film, and it's obvious all along where this is going, also as the plot is based on true events. It would probably work out better as a docudrama. The music score fits nicely and the acting performances, particularly from the Chinese characters, are quite solid, but why cast an overused and overrated Meryl Streep? Again she basically only plays another version of herself, and there must be thousands of less famous actresses who could do her role in this film better. Neither hers or Aidan Quinn's fame attraction benefits the total. Also there is an effort to bind the plot and fundamental message together with dividing it into chapters named after the elements, but it's unclear what the intention behind this is. Neither the attempt to create metaphoric combinations between astronomical theses and segments in the plot are very successful. Nice try, but no PhD.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

john e

Director Chen Shi-Zeng presents the haunting tale of Liu Xing in his 2008 film, Dark Matter. Xing is a brilliant Chinese doctoral student who is afforded an opportunity to do research work in the United States. Xing dreams of winning a Nobel Prize and eagerly dives into pleasing his mentor, Professor Reiser (Aidan Quinn in an extremely well nuanced performance). Meryl Streep rounds out the cast as Johanna Silver. Silver is wealthy and well-intentioned donor at the University where Xing is doing his research, and she befriends him as he attempts to acclimate to the many differences of living in the United States versus China. While Streep and Quinn both give outstanding performances, for me this film was carried by Ye Liu portraying the eager and devoted protagonist, Liu Xing. He is on equal footing with his elder co-stars and steals the camera and the viewer's heart with his wide-eyed enthusiasm, naivety, and immense pride. As Xing progresses in his research for Professor Reiser, he writes home often to tell of his progress, sometimes exaggerating his own successes. The letters are presented to the viewer in voice overs and director Shi-Zeng juxtaposes Xing's words with scenes of his parents in China who work laboriously in menial jobs. These cutaways work well. On the other hand, Shi-Zeng also uses flashes of light with quick glimpses of Xing at other moments with odd camera angle cutaways that don't work. I found them distracting. There is also an odd friendship that Xing establishes with a local female barista that seems overplayed. It establishes his desire to fit in and "Americanize" but seems to have been included more to simply set up the necessary distinction between cosmology and cosmetology. Xing's brilliance soon causes animosity with the professor he has been working for and he finds his path to success and his integration into American life to be far from the experience he had dreamed of or written to his parents about. Looking for ways to remain in America he takes on work that leads to one of the most memorable scenes of the film. Xing (Lui) and Johanna (Streep) deliver a cringe worthy few moments where discomfort is agonizingly drawn out and shame is laid bare… neither character attempting to speak truthfully for fear of disappointing the other. This scene is forever etched in my brain now. After this moment, Xing takes control of his circumstances in what is an all too American way. The Beijing Angelic Choir signing a powerful version of "Beautiful Dreamer" only enhances the film's conclusion. From what I've now seen, I'm in the minority with this opinion, but I think this movie is a fine one, especially for a first-time director. This one will remain with me, flaws and all.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

L'argomento trattato avrebbe tutte le caratteristiche per essere interessante, ma ciò che lo rende poco commestibile è la regia lenta e troppo incessantemente concentrata sull'elaborazione di un carattere introverso quanto spaesato. Al posto che rendere accessibile a tutti il disagio del protagonista, lo si interiorizza, impedendo al pubblico di capirne la vera essenza. Inoltre troppi caratteri stereotipati e assolutamente inconsistenti. Peccato perchè l'idea era molto interessante.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Meryl Streep somehow ended up in this real dog of a film about a Chinese student goes apeshit. One to be missed for sure.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The logic for the ending is a bit too tenuous. The main character does not appear to have psychological problems to make him even just want to shoot someone, anyone. The real life person from which the film is inspired certainly was more deeply troubled. It can be however taken ironically to mean that the main character finally adapts to life in the USA and solves some frustrations the americanos way.... I think the film also wants to leaves the message that the guy chose the gun too hastily and his problems would be solved very happily with some patience - scene where his romantic interest seemed to miss him near the end.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Chen Shi-Zeng

Director

Ye Liu

Liu Xing

Aidan Quinn

Jacob Reiser

Meryl Streep

Joanna Silver

Blair Brown

Hildy

Bill Irwin

Hal Silver

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

27%

47%

Lions for Lambs

36%

23%

August

58%

55%

Interview

38%

52%

Reservation Road

21%

45%

Fireflies in the Garden

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

RT on DVD: Frank Miller Talks The Spirit, Michel Gondry Releases New Music Video DVD

Sundance Awards: "Padre Nuestro," "Grace is Gone" Among Competition Winners

View more photos

Richard Brody

New Yorker

Despite cavernous plot holes and some unabashed Chinese nationalist speechifying, the spectacle of intellect thwarted in mid-flight has a moody resonance.

Dec 19, 2022

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 2/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

We know we're in strange territory from the opening shot.

Aug 15, 2011

Full Review

Burl Burlingame

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Xing is surprised to discover Western academics are just as ruthless as communist apparatchiks and, ill equipped emotionally to handle humiliation, he takes his guns to town.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jul 5, 2011

Full Review

Dave White

Movies.com

Rated: 1.5/5

Apr 4, 2011

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Liu Xing (Ye Liu), a promising Chinese doctoral candidate accepted into an elite astronomy program in the United States, struggles to adjust to life in his new home. Xing finds an unlikely friend in university donor Johanna Silver (Meryl Streep) and a willing mentor in acclaimed professor Jacob Reiser (Aidan Quinn). But, when Xing's groundbreaking research begins to contradict Reiser's famed theories, Xing finds his dissertation derailed and his career in science speedily spiraling downward.

Director: Chen Shi-Zeng
Executive Producer: Kirk D'Amico, Linda Chiu
Screenwriter: Billy Shebar
Distributor: First Independent Pictures
Production Co: Saltmill Prods., American Sterling Productions
Rating: R (Language|Brief Sexual Content|A Scene of Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 11, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $30.0K

Most Popular at Home Now