Hollywoodland (2006)

That was an excellent one.

Instant Favorite.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

To me, this movie is among the best movies of the past decade. I absolutely love historical American biopic film noir set in the 1950's, especially set in Tinsel town. And this is the best film I've seen in that genre. Also, as a kid I was absolutely nuts about the original TV series "Adventures of Superman" starring George Reeves. Once, when we lived in Houston, Texas, my parents were expecting company, and my mother was busy vacuuming the living room when the Superman show came on. I came running in from outside right on schedule, grabbed a cookie, turned on the TV, turned up the volume, and began to watch as I always religiously did. As my mother passed in front of the TV vacuuming, she switched off the TV and told me to go back outside and play because she had to clean up for the guests. Well, I'll be brief and simply say that I went into full-blown convulsions, complete with screaming, falling to the floor, kicking, and choking on my cookie. My mother was dumbfounded by my reaction; she stood motionless staring at me with the vacuum whirring in her hand. She had never seen me act like that before, or since. She realized that I was neurotically serious about this TV show, and so she immediately turned it back on. I instantly recovered and continued watching like a hypnotized zombie, and she returned to her vacuuming. If you knew my mom you'd know how rare this was because she almost never reversed a parental command to her kids, nor did she flinch from spanking us if we were overly stubborn. Getting back to this film, Ben Affleck was brilliant in his portrayal of George Reeves. His was the most difficult role because the public knows Reeves. Affleck's mannerisms, body movements, facial expressions, and dialog were perfect Reeves to the tee, even though his voice is a bit different. That kind of research and acting ability separates the pros from the rookies. Affleck is a consummate professional, a great actor. Adrien Brody, also a consummate professional, and one of my favorites, was absolutely superb in the role of detective Louis Simo. I don't think anyone could have given a better performance as a young 1950's real-life LA private eye, complete with reality life problems. Brody made this picture a success as the driving force at the helm; he was thoroughly enjoyable to watch. Diane Lane was also great as Toni Mannix. I consider the casting for this film a work of genius, because Robin Tunney, Jeff DeMunn, Bob Hoskins, Neil Crone, Caroline Dhavernas, and Joe Spano all gave superb performances, as did all the actors in this film. But I think the real heroes of this great film are director Allen Coulter, producer Glenn Williamson, writers Howard Korder and Paul Bernbaum, and the production professionals. Pre-production research and accuracy are extremely important in a biopic film. This film's story and character accuracy, cinematography, depiction of 1950's Los Angeles, background music, artistry, sound and film editing, are absolutely amazing work by some of the greatest film talents of our time. I particularly liked the film's beautiful story art and human reflection on Reeve's life and personal tragedies, and Simo's deepening personal emotions as he investigates Reeve's death, finding some parallels between Reeve's life and his own. This movie is among my most important art possessions. I first saw it in a theater when it was released in 2006. I was divorced at the time, and I went alone to a crowded city theater. I quietly slipped into the dark theater with my popcorn and soda, because I really wanted to see this film. Somehow I knew I'd love it, and I did. This film does not disappoint. When the DVD came out I immediately purchased one. Whether I'm facing a life tragedy, or I'm depressed, had a bad day, or simply want to enjoy a beautiful movie, I can slip a DVD like this into the player and be transferred to another place and time, entertained, and cured of my burdens all at once. I can't begin to express my appreciation for the people who come together and create great works like this movie, nor can I express my awe in their amazing talents. Biopic films like this are grossly under-appreciated by the public. These movies don't rake in the vast numbers of 12 to 18 year-olds who make up the large demographic of movie goers, thus don't rake in huge box office revenues like the dumb action-hero, sci-fi CGI, and horror thrillers do. I guess most people would also be bored reading Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, preferring a Hobbit fantasy novel instead. They'd toss Einstein's book aside, never appreciating the great accomplishment in human intellect that they just trashed. This is why I so appreciate the people who produce these movies. They give the world the fruits of their amazing talents, with little monetary reward. They leave us great works of art and history for posterity. Thankfully, Hollywoodland eventually did make a small profit after DVD rentals and sales, which restores some of my confidence in the American public.

For all Dark Knight fans furious over the casting of Ben Affleck in the upcoming BATMAN VS SUPERMAN, he did convincingly play a superhero, or rather, an actor playing a superhero, with style and finesse…So put your DAREDEVIL phobia aside and check out HOLLYWOODLAND, a biopic combined with Film Noir about actor George Reeves, star of the original SUPERMAN television show and who may nor may not have committed suicide, giving Affleck the chance of, at that time, returning to indie form after bombing as a big box office superstar…At one point, before his directorial/starring successes with THE TOWN and the Oscar winning ARGO, Affleck was no longer allowed to play in the A-list reindeer games...Enter the struggling, melancholy Reeves, a square-jawed character actor whose most prominent role was a brief scene in GONE WITH THE WIND. Like anyone in the biz, he desperately yearned for a game-changing cinematic opportunity, and finally landed a part he didn't want – as Clark Kent, the mild-mannered newspaper reporter who is really, beneath a stiff suit and horn-rimmed glasses, the "greatest" superhero of them all.The best scenes have Reeves conflicted with the show's success, having to appease unpredictable women while keeping a good image for the children who worship him. But since the story goes back and forth in time, much of the film centers on rogue private eye/gumshoe Louis Simo...A sleek, manipulative Adrian Brody... who's told the world doesn't need any more Ralph Meeker types right off the bat... is a pretty good snoop, but his character is much too convinced – way early on – that Reeves was murdered by his fiancé rather than a self- inflicting gun shot, making him more of a conspiracy theory mouthpiece than an ambiguous pawn gathering clues.Particular scenes involving Simo shrugging from one location to the next, in the usual Noir fashion, tend to drag in this entertaining but overlong project. Making the sporadic backstory about George Reeves and his fledgling career, even when he was on top of the world, that much better.

Hollywoodland is a biographical docudrama that documents a fictional account of the investigation surrounding the death of actor George Reeves,played by Ben Affleck,the star of the 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman. Adrien Brody plays Louis Simo, a fictional down-on-his-luck private investigator on the case, as he questions Toni Mannix,portrayed by Diane Lane, who was involved in a long romantic relationship with Reeves and was the wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix. Reeves had ended the affair and had become engaged to a younger woman, aspiring actress Leonore Lemmon.Bob Hoskins,Molly Parker,Robin Tunney,Caroline Dhavernas and Kathleen Robertson play key supporting roles.It was directed by Allen Coulter.This movie is well worth seeing as it explores an intriguing bit of Hollywood history, and through the strength of its performances keeps us engaged and entertained. Affleck does a terrific job with this role as Reeves. Also,in presenting its mystery as a set of plausible scenarios, it holds interest as a mystery that's refreshingly compassionate toward the fate of its characters. Warts and all, they're likable dreamers in a town called Hollywoodland where dreams don't always come true.

This strong cast does well in bringing their characters to life. I have to admit that when I heard that Ben Affleck was going to play George Reeves I had my doubts. Just a few minutes into his performance removed all traces of doubt. With the help of a little prosthetic makeup on his nose and excellent use of body language Affleck became the despondent Reeves. He was able to switch between the public, confident Reeves and the more self doubting private man with ease. He demonstrates here that he has the talent to carry a film like this. Diane Lane is simply put perfect in her portrayal of Toni. She plays older than she is, a daring move for any actress in her forties. She commands the screen with her talent and makes the audience believe that she belongs in the glitz ad glamour of the times. Adrien Brody plays the role he does best here, a man conflicted as the one he is investigating. As he delves deeper into the life and death of Reeves he comes to discover that they had a lot in common. Simo was in a troubled marriage and felt he has failed in achieving what he wanted from life.