Hollywoodland

2006 - Focus Features
Directed By Allen Coulter


SYNOPSIS

The death of TV's Superman, George Reeves (Ben Affleck,) is ruled a suicide. His mother (Lois Smith) doesn't believe it was suicide and hires a detective (Adrian Brody.) The detective uncovers many possible suspects and clues overlooked by the police that point to murder.

MY THOUGHTS


One of Hollywood's greatest death mysteries gets the big screen treatment.

 Hollywoodland presents many of the possible scenarios that may have occurred surrounding George Reeves' death in 1959. It also raises many of the questions surrounding evidence, a half-assed autopsy, and possible studio hush-ups. Like real life, the film does not offer a conclusive answer as to what happened that night. So much time has passed that we will likely never know.
 

Adrian Brody's character is a scumbag, but not so much we can't root for him. But he's of questionable moral fiber like the best film noir-type protagonist. His role is fictionalized in the story. The role brings a lot of baggage that's unnecessary to the story (but more on that later.) At many points the role seems like a cheap knock-off of Phillip Marlowe, just not as interesting. But Brody makes the most with the little he has.

Ben Affleck does his best dramatic work of his career here. His George Reeves appears like a fully-realized and complex person despite his limited screen-time (limited to flashbacks.)


The filmmakers did an amazing job at recreating the 40's and 50's time period. It's not quite as an elaborate job as other films, like L.A. Confidential, with major street scenes and location shooting, but it is a more intimate and 'small' film. The sets and costumes are simply perfect. There are also subtle differences that distinguish the 'modern day' and flashback footage so we're never confused.

Hollywoodland does drag in many spots. Brody's (estranged) family life seems tacked-on to humanize him more and allow for an actual resolution in the end (since the Reeves case has none.) The scenes with his son and his ex lack the punch that Brody's investigative scenes have and come across as dull and trite.
Otherwise, the rest of the film is strong and would fit in perfectly with the noir films of the 40's and 50's.