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The Black Dahlia [2006]


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Editorial
Synopsis

Based on the novel by James Ellroy (L.A. CONFIDENTIAL), THE BLACK DAHLIA stars Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart as a pair of LAPD detectives assigned to the most notorious murder in Hollywood history. Director Brian De Palma (SCARFACE, THE UNTOUCHABLES) takes time to establish the relationship between Buddy Bleichert, Lee Blanchard, and their mutual love Kay (Scarlett Johanssen), before introducing the 1947 murder after which the film is named. In the haunting screen-tests left behind after her mysterious death, aspiring actress Elizabeth Short appears to want fame so badly, she’ll do anything to get it. Her pornographic film appearances, and a rumoured affair with narcissist heiress Madeleine Linscott (Hillary Swank), provide just two clues in a sea of confusion. THE BLACK DAHLIA crams every subplot from Ellroy’s novel into two hours, but only connects them towards the end of the movie. The screen-tests featuring a sadly desperate Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirshner) are captivatingly filmed in gritty black-and-white. These scenes succeed in showing the industry ugliness most likely behind Elizabeth's death, while the rest of the film self-consciously strives to be noir through elaborate set design, dramatic camera angles, and narration taken straight from the book. If De Palma’s goal was to make us examine our own voyeuristic fascination with murder, particularly the gruesome murder of a beautiful young woman, then he succeeds, because throughout a film invested in so many different storylines, Short’s remains the most interesting one.


rubbish
Review date: 2008-06-07 Rating: 2 out of 10

after rubbish film from brian de palma lets hope he has a return to form soon,this is bland, badly acted nonsense

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Reviews


Make notes, I'll be asking questions later.
Review date: 2008-03-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

A complex who-dunnit with a good layer of Raymond Chandler hard-boiled dialogue laid on a specific era in America. You need to keep your wits about you to follow the plot which has more twists than a very twisty twisted thing. It isn't LA Confidential but it's not bad if you enjoy processing clues.

Disappointing
Review date: 2008-01-13 Rating: 2 out of 10

Looking forward as I was to a repeat performance from the LA confidential school of cinema, I was astonished how bad this film was. Impenetrable dialogue, ludicrously convoluted and unbelievable plot, and a totally wasted presence of the talented Scarlett Johansen. Like some of the other reviewers, I had this on my 'must see' list for the cinema but couldn't make it - glad I didn't.

Clumsy film based on a bad book
Review date: 2008-01-01 Rating: 6 out of 10

I read the boring book years ago and that was very slow to start with - all that boxing and buddy bonding stuff that ate up far too much of the book and, in this case, the film, before getting to the nitty gritty, which in itself is treated at times more as a side issue. The film - like the book - lacks focus. There's the murder. There's a hunt for a secondary criminal. There's a cop's decline through drugs. There's a love affair. Police politics. Boxing. It's all over the place, although the pieces do come together (perhaps more by luck than judgement). On the plus side, the post-2nd WW period is fairly effectively done, but still suffers from the odd amateur element (like the punch-up between sailors and others near the beginning, which looked far too contrived). Hmmm, I gave this three but thinking more about it.....

Black Marks For This
Review date: 2007-12-02 Rating: 4 out of 10

The main trouble with this movie is that Brian De Palma thought he was making a screen noir type film. However,he seems to have forgotten this along the way and added in a bit more blood, sex and profanity than is normal for such films.Not that these additions add any more excitement as the end result is extremely dull and ends like a damp firework.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Hilary Swank
Mia Kirshner
Josh Hartnett
Scarlett Johansson
Aaron Eckhart

Creators:
Aaron Eckhart (Primary Contributor)
Josh Hartnett (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Entertainment in Video
Manufacturer: Entertainment in Video
EAN: 5017239194481
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2007-01-22
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 116 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Original Language)

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