Radio Lady Reviews: "Hollywoodland" - Democratic Underground

Radio_Lady

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Thu Sep-07-06 10:22 PM
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Radio Lady Reviews: "Hollywoodland"

Edited on Thu Sep-07-06 10:24 PM by Radio_Lady

“Hollywoodland,” the new movie starring Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, and Diane Lane, is terrific. Working from an excellent script by Paul Bernbaum, director Allen Coulter, in his feature directorial debut, has crafted a suspenseful mystery with sharply drawn characters that you will long remember. Coulter is an award nominee for his prior work on “The Sopranos” and “Sex in the City”. If “Hollywoodland” is any indication of what he can do with film…WOW…let us have more of it, please!

This is such a well-done movie on so many fronts that it’s hard to know where to begin. Maybe the best place is with a little background on the generally-believed-to-be-true story. The central figure is actor George Reeves who achieved some level of celebrity in the early 1950s playing Superman on television. He became so typecast in the role that he was denied satisfaction of his goal of becoming a more serious actor. Despondent, he finally committed suicide in June 1959, or was it really homicide? Therein lies the tale to be told in “Hollywoodland.”

The film’s re-creation of Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s is remarkable (Just as an aside, I was studying film and theater arts at U.C.L.A. in 1959 and 1960, and I recall the original incident quite well.) The scenic design and attention to detail on this film is matched by the superlative performances of its stars, Brody, Affleck, and Lane, who are equally as well supported by the likes of Bob Hoskins, Joe Spano, Robin Tunney and Molly Parker. Credit Allen Coulter for obtaining so much from these actors.

Adrien Brody, in a fictional role as the beat-out, on-the-edge, divorced father and private eye Louis Simo, is riveting. Ben Affleck delivers to the hilt as George Reeves -- a role that easily could garner an Oscar nomination --in my opinion, Affleck has never been this good. Also, Brody and Affleck could be in competition for this recognition. Diane Lane, playing George’s lover, Toni Mannix, just continues to amaze as she demonstrates the depth and breadth of her abilities. In a more limited but solid outing, Bob Hoskins plays Toni’s husband, Eddie Mannix, the movie magnate.

"Hollywoodland" has a solid impact which is due in part to the way the film presents two interwoven stories. One is the Simo detective story as he struggles to uncover the truth of what happened to Reeves. The other is the Reeves story of what his life was all about leading up to his death. The direction and film editing achieves at an exceptional level as the two stories are skillfully combined and unfolded. It all has exactly the right touch and the transitions are so appropriate as to feel natural and never jarring. Add in some flashbacks, so you can keep up with the characters in various time sequences.

So, was it murder or was it suicide? Don’t worry about it. It is not as important as the vehicle Coulter puts us in to get us there. And what a ride it is. This is “A” quality movie-making all the way and that’s what I rate it on Ellen's Entertainment Report Card.

'Hollywoodland'

Directed by Allen Coulter; screenplay by Paul Bernbaum; cinematography by Jonathan Freeman; edited by Michael Berenbaum; production design by Leslie McDonald; music by Marcelo Zarvos; produced by Glenn Williamson.
A Focus Features release; opens Friday 09/08/06.
Running time: 2:06
MPAA rating: R (for language, some violence and sexual content).