Thriller is little more than period eye candy; The Black Dahlia wilts under close inspection
This movie review appeared in Fort McMurray Today Sept. 20, 2006.
The Black Dahlia
Starring: Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson
Directed by: Brian De Palma
rating: 18A
** 1/2 stars (out of four)
By PAULA OGONOSKI
Today staff
Plot aside, The Black Dahlia is a visual masterpiece but like Grandma Strelczyk says, looking good simply isn't good enough.
The story is overly complex and the subplots draw the viewers' attention away from the main story, that in itself is compelling.
Based on James Ellroy's novel, inspired by the most notorious unsolved murders in California history, two Los Angeles detectives (Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart) are thrown into the biggest case of their careers, the murder of the Black Dahlia.
As the wannabe starlet's gruesome murder unravels, they uncover the seedy world in which she entangled herself.
The detectives also discover that their own skeletons in the closet might be the last ingredient in their personal recipes for disaster.
Director Brian De Palma (Mission Impossible) does an amazing job bringing the 1940s to life, from the fashion to the soft lighting and camera angles to the language.
The lure of gumshoe cinema draws you into the compelling tale. But the overly complex subplots, like the main characters' secrets, ruin an otherwise strong script. Keeping it simple would have been the order of the day. With a strong screenplay, the bridge to nowhere subplots could have been averted.
But not all was lost. Performances by today's Hollywood elite proved that veterans like academy award winner Hilary Swank and the up-and-comers Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson will likely be accepting golden statues in the future, even if it's not for this flick.
In the end, if you're a fan of the 1940s, the film is worth the two hours, but if seeing a strong murder mystery complete with twists is on the menu try A Perfect Murder with Michael Douglas or Primal Fear with Edward Norton.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
The Black Dahlia
Starring: Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson
Directed by: Brian De Palma
rating: 18A
** 1/2 stars (out of four)
By PAULA OGONOSKI
Today staff
Plot aside, The Black Dahlia is a visual masterpiece but like Grandma Strelczyk says, looking good simply isn't good enough.
The story is overly complex and the subplots draw the viewers' attention away from the main story, that in itself is compelling.
Based on James Ellroy's novel, inspired by the most notorious unsolved murders in California history, two Los Angeles detectives (Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart) are thrown into the biggest case of their careers, the murder of the Black Dahlia.
As the wannabe starlet's gruesome murder unravels, they uncover the seedy world in which she entangled herself.
The detectives also discover that their own skeletons in the closet might be the last ingredient in their personal recipes for disaster.
Director Brian De Palma (Mission Impossible) does an amazing job bringing the 1940s to life, from the fashion to the soft lighting and camera angles to the language.
The lure of gumshoe cinema draws you into the compelling tale. But the overly complex subplots, like the main characters' secrets, ruin an otherwise strong script. Keeping it simple would have been the order of the day. With a strong screenplay, the bridge to nowhere subplots could have been averted.
But not all was lost. Performances by today's Hollywood elite proved that veterans like academy award winner Hilary Swank and the up-and-comers Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson will likely be accepting golden statues in the future, even if it's not for this flick.
In the end, if you're a fan of the 1940s, the film is worth the two hours, but if seeing a strong murder mystery complete with twists is on the menu try A Perfect Murder with Michael Douglas or Primal Fear with Edward Norton.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home