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The Black Dahlia Reviews

2006

50
from 30,542 members

Based on the novel by James Ellroy, Brian De Palma's 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 (THE UNTOUCHABLES, SCARFACE) establishes the relationship between Buddy Bleichert and Lee Blanchard, and .. Read more

Starring	Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Josh Hartnett, Aaron Eckhart
Director	Brian De Palma
Genres	Drama, Thriller

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Critic's review of The Black Dahlia
View all (1)
- DAHLIA has an air of nostalgia for epic, bygone-era movie-making....THE BLACK DAHLIA is a pleasure for the all-over dazzle of its star turns
- 41127
- - Total Film
  - 08 Oct 2007 at 15:26
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Most helpful member's review of The Black Dahlia
View all members' reviews (395)
- - 79
  - 7
  The Black Dahlia
  
  I was really excited about this one. James Ellroy's book is dense and brilliant, yes it looked all but impossible to carve a movie out of it but it had been... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 286499
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - SAI81
  - 360 reviews
  - Tonbridge
  - 17 Sep 2006 at 09:49
Most recent members' reviews of The Black Dahlia
View all members' reviews (395)
- - 0
  - 0
  Another faulty disc from Tesco DVD Rental
  
  A poor film but to be fair it was hard to tell because it jumped so much.
  
  Report this review
- 1120257
- - a customer
  - UK
  - 19 May 2012 at 12:28
- - 0
  - 1
  So close but weak on sound and lead actors
  
  With a great James Ellroy plot, constant superb photography and lighting, great music and a smart script this film should be up there with LA Confidential. But ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1073715
- - idontwantnickname
  - 41 reviews
  - Tadworth
  - 15 Dec 2011 at 18:29
- - 0
  - 1
  was disappointing
  
  I have been waiting to see this film for years after seeing the spoiler... and was sooooo disappointed. Not at all what I expected.
  
  Report this review
- 1065227
- - a customer
  - 20 Nov 2011 at 23:36
- - 0
  - 1
  Daft Dahlia
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Sorry, couldn't make head or tail of it. This film did absolutely nothing for me and I won't be recommending it to my friends
  
  Report this review
- 1055006
- - thecheese
  - 48 reviews
  - Manchester
  - 25 Oct 2011 at 00:29
- - 0
  - 0
  Moves at a cracking pace
  
  OK - I havent read the book, but I thought this was a film full of twists and turns which kept the film moving at a cracking pace, and it was very rich in terms... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1038832
- - Tessibel
  - 11 reviews
  - 09 Sep 2011 at 20:55
- - 0
  - 0
  Pedestrian treatment of an intriguing subject.
  
  This is not a bad film although I found the ending contrived and unsatisfactory. The acting leads were adequate, Hilary Swank could have been used to better ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1013203
- - Perdurabo
  - 58 reviews
  - LONDON
  - 05 Jul 2011 at 08:56
- - 0
  - 0
  two dull policemen
  
  very disappointing. i thought it was about elizabeth short and was really looking forward to it but it wasnt!!!! the story was about two very dull policemen. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 994676
- - a customer
  - 19 May 2011 at 13:45
- - 0
  - 0
  The Black Dahlia
  
  Not what I was expecting, I thought it would be more about the actual Murder of Elzabeth Short from the investigative side rather than about the personal lives ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 973696
- - a customer
  - Staffordshire
  - 16 Mar 2011 at 20:40
- - 0
  - 0
  The Black Dahlia (2006)
  
  Given that this is one of Elroy's best novels, it comes as a complete disappointment that the film adaptation of The Black Dahlia failed to impress. Somehow... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 973233
- - a customer
  - London, England
  - 15 Mar 2011 at 10:08
- - 0
  - 0
  Black Dahlia - the most brutal of murders.
  
  Do not expect 'Silence of the Lambs' this is waaaaaay better. This is a police procedural at it's best. Brutal and horrific and true. Full of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 968222
- - LurcherBoy
  - 5 reviews
  - liverpool
  - 26 Feb 2011 at 22:41
View all members' reviews (395)

- - 79
  - 7
  The Black Dahlia
  
  I was really excited about this one. James Ellroy's book is dense and brilliant, yes it looked all but impossible to carve a movie out of it but it had been... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 286499
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - SAI81
  - 360 reviews
  - Tonbridge
  - 17 Sep 2006 at 09:49
- - 40
  - 16
  GREAT,CLASSIC film noir
  
  I didn't go in with any preconceived notion, just looking to be entertained and entertained I was!!The critics on this site should stop 'trying' so... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 412892
- - cpfran
  - london
  - 18 Feb 2007 at 13:15
- - 30
  - 2
  Stylish disaster
  
  DePalma obviously spent a great deal of time and effort ensuring that his neo noir looked great. If only he could have put as much effort into the film's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 413048
- - GreenwichPaul
  - 49 reviews
  - London
  - 19 Feb 2007 at 07:29
- - 25
  - 8
  Slow. Dull. Poor. Embarrassing.
  
  I watched this at the cinema yesterday. To say it was a waste of £7.20 is an understatement. I seriously do not recall being in such a state of boredom ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 286436
- - a Vagrant
  - London, UK
  - 16 Sep 2006 at 19:11
- - 19
  - 4
  to quote from the movie: 'enough horse sh*t'
  
  Film fans, noir fans, James Ellroy fans, beware: watching this adaptation of The Black Dahlia is like watching one of those soft-porn movies which pretends to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 409393
- - a customer
  - cardiff, wales
  - 06 Feb 2007 at 04:06
- - 18
  - 4
  Where did it all go wrong?
  
  I'd just read Ellroy's book, which I loved. A grim story, but redeeemed by fantastically interesting characters and a wonderful sense of creeping dread... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 411930
- - Clive
  - Llanilar, Wales
  - 14 Feb 2007 at 19:38
- - 16
  - 5
  Absolute disappointment
  
  Total rubbish. This film is appallingly bad on so many levels. Aaron Eckhart is one of my favourite actors but is wasted in this ludicrously terrible film. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 292424
- - Justin Berkovi
  - Hove, UK
  - 05 Oct 2006 at 21:57
- - 13
  - 4
  Dull
  
  This film did little to grab my interest and as sexy as Scarlett Johansson is, her acting is very overrated.
  
  Report this review
- 485197
- - Scottfilmhead
  - 9 reviews
  - Nottingham
  - 16 Oct 2007 at 11:29
- - 12
  - 3
  The Black waste of 2 hours of my life Dahlia
  
  I am watching this as i write. I find this film so dull that i decided to write a review saying so, instead of watching it.
  
  It just all seems so ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 486016
- - Zavaroni
  - 2 reviews
  - London
  - 18 Oct 2007 at 21:32
- - 16
  - 12
  Good , but not great
  
  By no way as good as LA Confidential, but still a really well produced film noir. It could never capture all the strands of the classic Ellroy book, let's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 405760
- - a customer
  - Teesside
  - 24 Jan 2007 at 20:48

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Black Dahlia
  
  Based on the novel by James Ellroy, Brian De Palma's 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 (THE UNTOUCHABLES, SCARFACE) establishes the relationship between Buddy ...