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Binding: DVD Format: NTSC Languages: Theatrical Release Date: September 08, 2006 Editorial Review: Amazon.com: The fact-based mystery of Hollywoodland takes place in 1959, when the death of Adventures of Superman TV star George Reeves cast a pall over the waning days of golden-age Hollywood. As written by Paul Bernbaum, this intriguing whodunit effectively evokes the tainted atmosphere that surrounded Reeves' death (officially ruled a suicide but never conclusively solved), and speculates on circumstances to suggest that Reeves may have been murdered. In combining the melancholy course of Reeves' career with the investigation of a down-and-out private detective into the possible causes of Reeves' death, the film evolves into an engrossing study of parallels between lives on either side of the Hollywood dream. Building upon a distinguished career in TV including episodes of HBO's The Sopranos, Rome and Six Feet Under, director Allen Coulter finds a satisfying balance between the tragic overtones of the Reeves case and the time-honored elements of the gumshoe genre, with Adrien Brody doing fine work as private eye Louis Simo, a fictional composite character who is our conduit to the desperate yearnings of Reeves' final months. In a critically acclaimed performance, Ben Affleck plays Reeves in moody flashbacks, caught between Superman stardom and financial dependence on his lover Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), the somewhat predatory wife of Hollywood "fixer" and MGM honcho Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins), whose mob connections suggest foul play as Simo's investigation progresses. Reeves' subsequent lover (played by Robin Tunney) may also be culpable, and as Simo's own personal life unravels, his empathy for Reeves takes on added significance. In presenting its mystery as a set of plausible scenarios, Hollywoodland 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 where dreams don't always come true. --Jeff Shannon Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Murder or Suicide?Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: From the Secret Files of Harry Pennypacker Shadow Watcher Nobody Drowns in Mineral Lake "Who killed Superman?" The LAPD, back in 1957, claimed that actor George Reeves, who played the superhero on television for many years, committed suicide, but other people have speculated that it was either his fiance', or even a professional "hit," ordered by MGM executive Eddie Mannix, whose wife, Toni, had had a long-term affair with Reeves. ... Read More Rating:  - Mildly entertaining...but in the end, it sort of falls flat. The main reason is because the film refuses to take a position. It doesn't have to be the truth, but just this detective's point of view or position. Instead, in the end, the message is: we don't what happened. Geez, I sat through all that to be back where I started? And as much as I like Brody, his character in this film is dull as dishwater. I care nothing about him or his issues. Why should I? This film shouldn't even be about him. Affleck, compare ... Read More Rating:  - EVEN SUPERMAN COULDN'T SAVE THIS MOVIE!OMG!! Could this movie be any worse?! I thought that Ben Affleck had finally gotten a role that he could sink his teeth into. But all he did was SHOW his teeth, cheesing like an idiot the whole time, even when he was in pain. The problem with this story is that THERE IS NO STORY! The plot and sub-plots make no sense and fall flat. Based on supposition and theory, this is an attempt to make George Reeves death more spectacular than his boring life. I remember when "Superman" died. ... Read More Rating:  - Great MovieGreat acting, strong supporting cast. This movie was interesting and made you think about what was going on. Definately worth the time and money. Rating: - Nuanced performances in interesting examination of fame and disappointmentI've seen , as a child, one or two ancient reruns of the SUPERMAN TV series starring George Reeves. Even in the late `60s, this show looked cheap and uninteresting. Yet for a couple of seasons, it made hunky actor Reeves famous through the nation. It also resulted in typecasting that prevented him from getting any other roles and eventually led him down a path of heavy drinking and other destructive behavior...culminating in his suicide. Simple enough. But HOLLYWOODLAND informed me ... Read More |
