Hollywoodland

Allen Coulter's has made a movie that is more than decent in his feature film debut. And even though the film doesn't always work I wasn't bored during the two plus hours running time.

Ben Affleck plays George Reeves who was best known for his role in the 50s hit television show Superman. Reeves is making a good living playing this super hero but he wants to be more than that. Before he lands this role he hooks up with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane) who is married to studio head Eddie Mannix. The Mannix's seem to have some sort of arrangement because Mr. Mannix doesn't mind that his wife is involved with Reeves as long as he can have his Asian mistress. Toni is a bit older than George and has the money to shower him with all kinds of gifts (including a nice house). But eventually Reeves tires of this and heads to New York to discuss the possibility of forming a production company. While he is there he meets the younger Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) and you can say that it was love at first sight (or some variation of that). When Reeves gets back to LA and tells Toni about his new love all hell breaks loose. Some time after that Reeves has a get together at his home. He is depressed and says goodnight to everyone rather early. It is at that time that he (supposedly) pulls the trigger of his gun and kills himself.

Enter second rate private eye Louis Simo (Adrien Brody). Simo has many problems of his own.
He and his wife are separated (or divorced) and he has trouble relating to his young son (who just happens to be devastated that Superman killed himself). Through a tip he connects with George's mother Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith) who is convinced that her son did not kill himself. As Simo gets more involved with the case he finds evidence that Reeves might have been murdered. But who could have done such a thing? Was it his fiancee Leonore, his jilted lover Toni or her gangster like husband Eddie? Well, I'm certainly not going to tell you. You will have to see the film and draw your own conclusions.

As I said before, I think that for the most part Coulter did a good job. The film goes back and forth between the time that Reeves was alive and after he has died. I don't think that the transition from one time period to the other went as smoothly as it could have. I think that screenwriter Paul Bernbaum could have given us a little less of Simo's personal problems and a little more time with Mr. & Mrs. Mannix. I also felt that Leonore's character was underdeveloped.

All of the acting is good. Brody captures Simo's pain (physical and otherwise) with his sad eyes.
Affleck was very good as the tortured Reeves. This is the best work that Affleck has done in a while and I am sure that this will help to revive his career. Hoskins is great as usual but I wish we would have seen more of him. Tunney does a fine job in a role that is underwritten. And best of all (for me) is Lane. She brings a great amount of sexiness and deviousness to her role and you know that she isn't always thinking of what would be in George's best interest. When she and Affleck were on the screen together you could feel their chemistry.

All in all, this is a good film. No, it isn't as good as Chinatown or LA Confidential but so what?
If you like film noir then I suggest you check out Hollywoodland.