Review of Hollywoodland (2006) by Dave G — 15 Dec 2008

When I was four or five years old I watched George Reeves as Superman every morning before school. You have to remember that this was almost 25 years after he first donned the cape and tights. I didn't know about the suicide, I just assumed that he was Christopher Reeve's dad (I was 5 remember?).

Hollywoodland isn't just a look at George Reeves (Ben Affleck) suicide. It's also a look at trying to make it in show business in the 1950's. Actors tried to sneak into pictures in Variety and studio bosses pulled the strings on what the public believed that their stars identities were.

Hollywoodland follows a private detective (Adrian Brody) who ends up in the employ of George Reeves' mother who believes that her son has been murdered. Intercut with flashbacks Brody follows that tale of the last few years of Reeves' life that involve the wife of a studio boss (Diane Lane), his fiance (Robin Tunney), and a vice president for MGM (Bob Hoskins).

The film is about the downward spiral of George Reeves, but it doesn't answer the question of was it murder or suicide. It just sums up the evidence and lets you decide. What I found interesting is that the cinematography tends to mimic the style of the 1950's- dull, yet colorful as if it was a bridge between black and white and color.

Hollywoodland is a great period/whodunnit film that doesn't really suffer from any major problems. A great cast and crew make this a dine film that shows us what Superman had hiding underneath that spitcurl.