HOLLYWOODLAND explores Reeves's life and tragic end from the perspective of Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), a private investigator hired by Reeves's mother shortly after his death. Cutting back and forth between scenes of Reeves's life and Simo's detective work, the film draws parallels between two men kept from appreciating the .. Read more
| Starring | Molly Parker, Ben Affleck, Kathleen Robertson, Adrien Brody |
|---|---|
| Director | Allen Coulter |
| Genres | Drama |
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HOLLYWOODLAND explores Reeves's life and tragic end from the perspective of Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), a private investigator hired by Reeves's mother shortly after his death. Cutting back and forth between scenes of Reeves's life and Simo's detective work, the film draws parallels between two men kept from appreciating the present by dreams of future grandeur. Ben Affleck returns to form as Reeves, a man whose hindering celebrity status may have reminded the actor of his own: despite breaking onto the scene with an Academy Award for writing GOOD WILL HUNTING in 1997, Affleck's career was at one point overshadowed by a romance as familiar to the public as Superman's cape. With close attention to detail, first-time director Allen Coulter creates two distinct worlds specific to their time, Simo's noir-ish and seedy L.A. forming a bleak contrast to the glamorous, formal Tinseltown Reeves so longed to be embraced by. An accomplished act for a first time director, HOLLYWOODLAND offers viewers a believable look into Hollywood's most glamorous bygone era. Strong performances and stylish filmmaking help fuel a mystery without a solution.
| Starring | Molly Parker, Ben Affleck, Kathleen Robertson, Adrien Brody, Robin Tunney, Diane Lane |
|---|---|
| Director | Allen Coulter |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 1 min Blu-ray: 2 hrs 2 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English Blu-ray: English |
| Released | DVD: 19 Mar 2007 Blu-ray: 19 Mar 2007 Production year: 2006 |
| Format | DVD |
Fifty's film noir with Adrien
Brody very sensitive performance as a down at
heel private eye investigating
the death of Superman actor.
Very slow paced ,though excellent performances by
Affleck and Lane, with a tremendous small role for
Bob Hoskins. The film certainly captures the time with its film studios and movie star mansions scenes, but it is flawed effort
and could have been a classic if the screenplay was
a lot sronger.
George Reeves committed suicide aged 45 in 1959, two years after his starring role as US TV's Superman came to an abrupt end. Or did he? That's what gumshoe Louis Simo, and this film, intend to find out.
Unfortunately, they don't. Or rather, having pinned the blame on MGM exec Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins, understated but still great) it gets a bit 'Clue': if you don't like that outcome, here are some more, the makers not having the balls (or the lawyers?) to stick to their convictions. Equally it doesn't know whether to focus on (half-truths and urban myths surrounding) Reeves - surprisingly sympathetically played by Ben Affleck - or sniff around Adrien Brody's Simo; an approach which leaves both under-explored.
Was Reeves too successful as an actor, early audiences unable to see him as anyone but Superman? Or did television actually wreck his career (he'd been a promising player in 'Gone With the Wind')? 'Hollywoodland' shies away from saying.
A bit confused and meandering but not unentertaining. I'm just not sure why.
Ben Affleck has signed up for a role in Mike Judge's forthcoming comedy movie Extract. Affleck who recently received favourable reviews for his directorial debut Gone Baby Gone will play an ambulance chasing lawyer in the Miramax film about a factory owner with terrible luck. According to Variety, Forgetting Sarah Marshall actresses Mila Kunis and Kristen Wiig are already on board for the project, which is due to start shooting next week in Los Angeles. It will be the first time... Read more