Without a doubt, this new film from director Keith Gordon is my favorite film at the festival so far.

Featuring the performance of Robert Downey Jr.'s career (yes, better than his uncanny turn as Charlie Chaplin), this strange, ultra hip, comedy/musical/drama/erotica/film noir is audacious and extremely innovative. I for one love the recent resurgence of musicals hitting theaters (I thought Moulin Rouge and Chicago were both fantastic films.) While The Singing Detective is a different breed of musical, it is very creative and courageous in it's execution.

Based on the Dennis Potter's TV mini-series, The Singing Detective is an imaginative fusion of several different genres. Downey Jr. soars as crime novelist Dan Dark, a man bedridden within the confines of a hospital. As he lay there in absolute agony (because of a painful skin condition), he slips from reality to fantasy as he begins to piece together the events that have shaped who he is. He does so through the help of an eccentric doctor played by Mel Gibson (in a fantastic transformation that brings to mind Robin Williams in One Hour Photo).

This movie is absolutely crazy. At the peak of dramatic tension, characters bust into song, but strangely, it always works. In that regard, I was reminded of Woody Allen's terrific Everyone Says I Love You.

Robert Downey Jr. acts with every inch of his body, essentially playing three different variations of himself. This is a bold performance ranging from over the top to absolute subtlety. At one moment, this fine actor will be acting out in a fit of rage, but then he suddenly slips into a pit of despair that just breaks your heart. And while his intricately complex Dark is part of what is really a comical film, Downey Jr. breathes dramatic, emotional power into this seemingly unplayable role. And wait until you see his ode to Humphrey Bogart. I was really blown away. While watching him, I honestly couldn't picture anyone else in this part. Mel Gibson (who also produced the film) is also sensational and almost unrecognizable as as Dark's balding doctor. These two actors have perfect chemistry and their scenes together are absolute bliss. The Singing Detective also boasts outstanding supporting turns from Jeremy Northan, Katie Holmes, Robin Wright Penn, and Carla Cugino.

Director Keith Gordon has created something special here. It brings to mind the works of David Lynch with it's sudden jumps from reality to fantasy. It also reminded me a bit of Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, although as strange as it is, I found this story much more accessible. Gordon is really great with this incredible ensemble and I suppose it helps that he's an actor himself, although his resume reads fairly strange (he appeared in Christine, Jaws 2 and Back to School). While he has directed other films (A Midnight Clear), he has fashioned his best work with the surreal The Singing Detective. This is a movie I won't soon forget.