Review of Hollywoodland (2006) by Angust M — 08 Dec 2008

Hollywoodland is a fascinating and really underrated character study about two guys who both wish they were something they aren't - one wishes he was a top detective, the other an A-list actor. I thought it was one of the best films of 2006 - sadly, few agree with me. It was ignored by critics and the public alike upon release, and even now hasn't found much of a following (its still in the 60% range on IMDb). Watching it again this morning, I'm dumbfounded as to how people can't see the subtle brilliance of the flick. Yes, its a slow-burn thriller, with more interesting moments then out-right suspense. But the reason I love it so much is that it not only works as a murder mystery, but also as a damning account of Hollywood then and now, as well as showcasing how tough it can be for an actor.

The film is a murder mystery to the ultimate core, in that the mystery will always remain that - a mystery. There is no definitive answer as to how and why George Reeves, the actor who played the first TV Superman in the 50's, died from a gunshot wound to the head. The movie provides us with several possibilities, including accidental murder, assassination, and suicide, but it doesn't settle on any of them. This may be what pissed off so many people who saw the flick; how can there be a mystery with no real outcome? But this is based on real life, and in real life, most mysteries have no outcomes. I loved the ambiguity over the film's murder plot. Personally, I do have to reside with the idea that George Reeves was killed, but I am unsure how, and by whom. And that's part of the fun. The movie gives us the clues, and lets us decide how to deal with them.

The acting is top notch. Adrian Brody plays the private detective trying to uncover the truth behind Reeves' death when no one else wants to. Brody has this awesome way of talking as if he's confiding something embarrassing and naughty, and I loved his more earthy take on the traditional film noir detective. Ben Affleck (who I've always actually really liked), is pitch perfect as George Reeves. He must've really resonated with the material of an actor being desperate for work, completely typecasted in one role he hates, then relegated to shit work the rest of his pathetic career. Its a great performance, and was worthy of an Oscar nod. Diane Lane is fine as the femme fatale (when was the last time we saw the sexy lead actress be quite a bit older than the two male leads?), and Bob Hoskins is suitably menacing as Lane's husband.

The film flips around from showing us the details of Reeves' life and the investigation of his death by Brody. I actually found the Reeves stuff more interesting. The man clearly had a lot of demons, only hinted at by this film (he smokes in the bathroom at a café, so the kids at the window can't see him do it), and he obviously hated putting on a ridiculous costume. The most heartbreaking moment of the film is when he's given his big-screen chance in From Here To Eternity, and the audience jeers and chuckles and says "look, its Superman!", leading to the studio executive to cut all his scenes out. There's a definite realism and truth to many of these scenes that I found really interesting - the murder mystery stuff, while also engaging, occasionally feels a little dry and slow moving.

Anyways, I really enjoy this film, and I urge all of you to take another chance with it. Its interesting, occasionally moving, sometimes suspenseful (as when a child almost shoots Reeves with a real gun, thinking it'll just bounce off him like it would for Superman), and ultimately quite thought provoking. Its well written, expertly shot and directed, and acted to the top tiers. For some reason, I have a bad feeling it will always be underrated and ignored, and that's a shame, because here is a real mystery, without a solution, that many people could learn something from.