Hollywoodland
Published by Kaonashi October 6th, 2006 in Crime, Drama, Period Piece, Film Noir, Historical.
Title: Hollywoodland
Year: 2006
Director: Allen Coulter
Starring Cast: Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, Diane Lane
Rated: R
NoFace for Film rating: 4 out of 7
I know it’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a movie that’s currently being shown in theaters. I guess the thing is that I’m not as excited to watch dramas that come out in the fall and winter (AKA: Oscar season). A lot of the current movies out there just don’t interest me, except this one.
On June 16, 1959, actor George Reeves was found dead in his bedroom, with a gunshot wound to his head. He was 45 years old. Reeves was most famous for being the first actor to portray Superman.
On the night of his death, Reeves had been entertaining guests (including his fiancee Lenore Lemmon) at his home, and they explained to police that Reeves excused himself and went upstairs. They then heard a gun go off, and when they ran to his bedroom they found Reeves dead on the bed, naked. His gun lay between his feet.
While police officially ruled Reeves’ death a suicide, many could not believe that he would be the type to kill himself, and that something more sinister was behind what happened to him. Hollywoodland explores that notion from a fictional private detective’s point of view.
Louis Simo (Brody) is a two-bit private detective who works/lives in a cheap, rundown, seedy apartment complex with his assistant/lover. Simo’s clients usually consist of people who suspect that their spouses are cheating. When Simo gets a tip that Reeves’ mother suspects that her son was murdered, Simo sees this as a chance to get his name in the newspaper and offers to help her. At this point, the film splits into two stories. One is your classic detective story, as Simo interviews suspects and chases down leads. The other features flashbacks of Reeves’ (Affleck) life from 1951 up to his death. There are many suspects, all with probable motives. Was it Lenore (Robin Tunney), the golddigging fiancee? Was it Toni Mannix (Lane), the rejected, wealthy older woman who gave Reeves everything? Could it be Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins), Toni’s much older husband and the Vice-President of MGM? Or did Reeves really just kill himself?
Overall, Hollywoodland was a good film, but I think that there was too much focus on Louis. For example, the sub-plot about his relationship with his ex-wife and son were pointless. Yes, his son represented the thousands of children who were devastated by Reeves’ death, but I didn’t see the point in focusing so much on his family. Also, there was too much time spent on Louis’s other client, an uptight, conservative man who suspected that his wife was cheating on him.
The thing is that in my opinion, Hollywoodland was supposed to focus on Reeves’ life, not Louis’s. The character of Louis is supposed to represent the audience- we follow him along as he collects the pieces of the puzzle and tries to put them together. Nearly every police drama TV show follows this formula, and it works.
Let’s look at Citizen Kane as an example. The film also starts out as a mystery regarding the death of a media icon. A journalist spends the rest of the movie trying to figure out the meaning behind Kane’s final word, but at no point do you learn anything personal about the journalist. Why? Because he’s not important to the story. Who cares? Therefore, as a result of trying to add too much depth to Louis’s character, Hollywoodland becomes muddled at times.
As for the actors, I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but Affleck actually did well! For once he didn’t overact. I rather liked his portrayal of Reeves, starting from a confident young actor, to a pudgy and depressed aging man. I especially liked the sad, quiet scene of Reeves sitting on his bed in the dark, looking defeated. Brody also did a great job as Louis Simo- likeable and sleazy at the same time. While he can be charming to reporters, he won’t be winning the Father of the Year award any time soon. Lane is beautiful as ever as Toni Mannix. She portrayed her as a very sexy woman with a lot of spunk and grace.
I still recommend Hollywoodland for viewing, mainly to marvel at the fact that Affleck has escaped Gigli.
Technorati Tags: Hollywoodland, George Reeves, Superman, Toni Mannix, Eddie Mannix, Ben Affleck, Diane Lane, Adrien Brody
4 Responses to “Hollywoodland”
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I have to say I disagree… I thought it was a 4 out of 5 star film. For me, it deftly highlighting the similarities and differences between Simo and Reeves (their families, lifestyles, hopes, insecurities), and that the film forced us consider notions of identity and (anti)heroism. And a very assured debut by director Allen Coulter.
The critics say that it’s Affleck’s turn as Reeves that is a career best, but I’d say that Diane Lane’s steely and intense performance as Reeves’ lover (Toni Mannix) is almost unsurpassable. I’d even mention the ‘O’ word, but we know what these internet rumours can do to a cast?…
Hi Laura, thanks for offering your opinion. You have a good point in that Simo’s life was used to compare/contrast with Reeves’ life. On one hand, you have a handsome, famous actor who seemed to have it all; on the other hand, you have a two-bit alcoholic detective who lives and works in a run-down apartment. Still, I tend to be strict when I grade films and I stick with my 4/7 rating.