Review of Black Dahlia (2006) by David B — 10 May 2010
A real disappointment, though a predictable one since De Palma has been mostly off his game for some two decades now. The movie has many faults, but it's original sin is in the casting of photogenic zombies Josh Hartnett and Scarlett Johansson in lead roles.
They never look or sound like they're from the 40's and, what's more, they can't act or even not be boring. Aaron Eckhart gives the movie what little vitality it has and, strangely enough, the most compelling performance is from Mia Kirshner in the Black Dahlia clips (I admit a huge bias here--I've been in love/lust with the woman ever since I saw her strip to Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" in "Exotica.
") Swank is unconvincing as a femme fatale. De Palma and his screenwriter commit more than enough other sins that even better casting couldn't have saved this Ellroy adaptation. And, sadly, the author stated last year that "all movie adaptations of my books are dead"--it was my fantasy to personally direct "The Big Nowhere.
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This review of Black Dahlia (2006) was written by David B on 10 May 2010.
Black Dahlia has generally received negative reviews.
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