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Hollywoodland

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Hollywoodland (2006)

August. 31,2006
|
6.5
|
R
| Drama Thriller Crime Mystery
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When Hollywood superstar George Reeves dies in his home, private detective Louis Simo is hired to investigate his death and gets caught in a web of lies involving a big studio executive's wife.

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Reviews

Beystiman
2006/08/31

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

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Allison Davies
2006/09/01

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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Philippa
2006/09/02

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

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Guillelmina
2006/09/03

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

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begob
2006/09/04

The violent death of a famous actor prompts an opportunistic private investigator to kick up a media storm with allegations of murder, but what trouble awaits him when vicious thugs from the movie industry are drawn into the frame?Elaborate noir with a down on his luck outsider, a femme fatale, feckless dames, and a twisty plot that spins a web of confusion without tearing apart. It's a fictionalised bio of the famous actor, which exaggerates quite a bit to increase the sense of tragedy and generate mystery. The atmosphere of '50s Hollywood is well done, and we're presented with a cycle of broken lives all trying desperately to feed off each other. The one inch of solid ground is provided by the actor's agent, who concludes with a non-committal act. So it's nihilistic, but there's plenty of passion and emotion - especially the sadness of loss.The performances are good, although I find it hard to accept the lead actor as a tough guy. As Marlowe would say: "no iron in his bones". The climax is good, but didn't pack a full punch for me - I think maybe the b&w footage of the wrestling audition didn't give the intended insight.The music is good, plenty of sorrowful brass. Highlight of the photography is flame-lighting of faces from dozens of cigarette scenes.Overall: Well paced genre piece that ends up solid rather than awe-inspiring.

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txmayer89
2006/09/05

I was surprised when I came across this on HBO GO. I had never heard of it, nor the story that it was telling. After doing some light research, I decided to take the dive in and give it a try. I was not disappointed.Now, I'm not going to tell you this was a modern classic. I think the film is lacking in a lot of areas. However, I sure as hell enjoyed it. I thought Adrien Brody put on an excellent performance. I thought that a Ben Affleck who was still trying to find his footing as a star actor (at the time) put on a great performance as well. The editing of the film, particularly the color tone, made for the film to become a much more immersive experience. If you love Unsolved Mysteries, or any other type of show or topic like that, then this film is a no brainer. I bet that anyone you know who lived through the 50's would remember this case. It was a big deal back then, and to see it play out was a lot of fun.

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SnoopyStyle
2006/09/06

It's 1959 and George Reeves (Ben Affleck) best known as TV Superman is found shot dead in a house full of people. The police rules it a suicide. Questionable private investigator Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) is hired by Helen Bessolo to investigate the death of her son Reeves. As he digs into the case, the show flashes back to Reeves' time in Hollywood starting as a nobody trying to get his foot in the door. He has an affair with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane) who he doesn't know at first that she is actually the wife of a MGM studio head Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins).The movie is a little slow and a little long relishing in the noirish hard-boiled style. Allen Coulter is a TV director and that may be why the movie moves more slowly. It doesn't quite have the urgency. Adrien Brody's slow brooding mannerisms only accentuate the pacing. I like the era and the style. I could do with a quicker pace. Ben Affleck fits this character better than his other nice guy roles. He's a little dark and a little complicated. It signals a change in Affleck's career path for the better. The style is there but the pacing is lacking.

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Desertman84
2006/09/07

Hollywoodland is a biographical docudrama that documents a fictional account of the investigation surrounding the death of actor George Reeves,played by Ben Affleck,the star of the 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman. Adrien Brody plays Louis Simo, a fictional down-on-his-luck private investigator on the case, as he questions Toni Mannix,portrayed by Diane Lane, who was involved in a long romantic relationship with Reeves and was the wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix. Reeves had ended the affair and had become engaged to a younger woman, aspiring actress Leonore Lemmon.Bob Hoskins,Molly Parker,Robin Tunney,Caroline Dhavernas and Kathleen Robertson play key supporting roles.It was directed by Allen Coulter.This movie is well worth seeing as it explores an intriguing bit of Hollywood history, and through the strength of its performances keeps us engaged and entertained. Affleck does a terrific job with this role as Reeves. Also,in presenting its mystery as a set of plausible scenarios, it holds interest as a mystery that's refreshingly compassionate toward the fate of its characters. Warts and all, they're likable dreamers in a town called Hollywoodland where dreams don't always come true.

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