Review of Black Dahlia (2006) by Vuk S — 28 Sep 2013

I was expecting to watch a movie based on the TRUE Black Dahlia murder. However this movie is based on a novel, which in turn, is only minimally based on the actual case. Actually, almost everything we are presented here, concerning the actual murder, is fiction. So what's the point? Why the fuck make a movie about a real murder and fictionalize the actual case so much?

This is a neo-noir movie (I am not a fan of noir cinema) and most of the plot revolves around the two detectives who investigate the black dahlia murder, mostly concerning their private lives and things that have nothing to do with the movie's title. By the end there are some unsatisfying twists, ones which I found to be quite stupid and boring.

On another note, the movie is visually pleasing, the acting was very good, and the director really captured the noir atmosphere of the 40's. It was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography. However, the characters were dull, boring and I didn't even care about what happened to them(well, except for the murder victim).

If you are expecting something based on truth, stay away from this, or else you will doubt every other true crime movie you watch. If you are a fan of De Palma or noir movies, I doubt you'd find any satisfaction here, except for the visuals.