OLESYA SALNIKOVA
Staff Writer
We all grow up with the notion that Superman cannot die. Unless there is a stick of kryptonite, but otherwise, he is as good as gold. So when the TV Superman died suddenly in the 1959, it is easy to understand why questions would emerge. Why would “Superman” kill himself, or why would someone kill him? This is the premise in director Allen Coulter’s first feature film, “Hollywoodland.”
Following the fashion of old Hollywood, the film comes complete with charming actors in polished black tuxedos and scheming socialites vying for Hollywood attention. Based on a true story, the movie follows the events that unfold after the mysterious death of actor George Reeves. The shocking death serves as a springboard for the film, as it sets into motion shadowy events and unending questions.
When Reeves (Ben Affleck), the star of the television series “The Adventures of Superman,” is found dead in his Hollywood Hills home on the night of June 16, 1959, from a single gunshot wound to the head, there is no question that his death is a suicide. Everyone seems to accept this opinion as fact, even detectives and private investigators hired to inspect the case by the actor’s mother, Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith). That is, almost everyone.
Louis Simo, played by Academy Award Winner Adrien Brody, is the typical loner. He has an estranged wife, a lover, a cheap apartment, and of course, he is a private investigator working entirely on his own. Simo is the only one who is convinced that the death of the actor was actually a premeditated murder and not simply a suicide.
Throughout the movie, Simo explores the various possibilities of what could have happened the night of the tragedy. The deceased actor’s fiance, Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) was in the house with the actor, among other people, and could have possibly shot the actor out of rashness. On the other hand, MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins) could have murdered the actor after finding out about Reeves’ illustrious affair with Mannix’s wife, Toni (Academy Award nominee Diane Lane). Or was it, despite all the doubts and speculations, really a suicide?
Directed by Allen Coulter, “Hollywoodland” is a dark take on Hollywood — portrayed as a playground for mystery and injustice — commenting on the value of truth and the consequences that ultimately come from seeking it. The style of the film intertwines the reality of the investigation with flashbacks from the life of the dead actor. The style is not only creative, but adds to the ambiguity of the truth behind the mysterious events. By using flashbacks, the film involves the audience in the plot and allows us to investigate the case through the eyes of Simo.
Unfortunately, the plot was oftentimes dreary and slow, while the conversations between the characters began to get wordy and dry as the plot developed. The various possibilities considered in the death of the Hollywood actor cause a headache because none of them was proven to be right or wrong — as with the real case — while more and more possibilities emerged. There were just too many layers to the plot to make sense and in the end the film became a confused mess of theories and probabilities with no clear cut answer to all the questioning.
“Hollywoodland” proved a bit more tedious than anticipated and turned rather dull as Detective Simo began to brood and question his own life, especially as he dug further into the case and started receiving threats. He is often shown with a cigarette between his fingers and a bottle of alcohol at his side, too drunk to even pick up the phone, probably defeated by the fact that he will never know the truth.
Such moments make the film depressing and leave the audience feeling despondent and pessimistic at the end of the movie. The entire 126 minutes of the movie is spent debating the possibility of murder and with no particular results the viewer is left to question the point of the film in the first place.
Despite the pessimistic and overloaded plot, the acting was solid as the impressive cast did not fail to give superb performances. Brody played a convincing private investigator, complete with snappy sarcasm and scheming tricks for money. He showed an exceptional emotional insight through his character’s personal struggles. Affleck’s natural charisma and effortless charm made his role funny and appealing, while Lane played a very seductive character.
The great acting certainly contributed to the overall quality of “Hollywoodland,” but the plot did not succeed in making it an exciting movie to watch.
09-14-2006
