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Hollywoodland (2006)

Genre: Crime/Drama

Director: Allen Coulter

Certificate: Hollywoodland was rated 16 by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of 16 years of age or upwards.

Violence = moderate. Drugs = mild. Sex/Nudity = moderate. Language = strong.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Hollywoodland

  Review

For some reason the title of this film didn’t appeal to me and having seen the film I don’t think it really suited the film.  Hollywoodland suggested to me that the film would be an insight in the wheeling and dealing of the Hollywood movie industry and while it does delve a little into the seedier side of 1950’s Hollywood it really only scratches the surface.  Based on real events, Hollywoodland tells the story of actor George Reeves who played a very popular TV Superman in the 1950’s.  He was found dead from a single bullet in 1959 and although recorded as suicide there was a lot of controversy about his death and rumours as to whether it was really murder.

George Reeves, played very well by Ben Affleck, always hoped of making the big time but found it difficult to break into movies and was stereotyped as the superhero Superman - kids loved the shows and in his own way he was quite successful but he wanted more.  The film starts in 1959 when he is found dead - an apparent suicide but when a private investigator (Adrien Brody) starts to investigate on behalf of the dead actor's mother he wonders if it could be murder.  The film follows the detective’s investigations while jumping back in time to show the life of George Reeves.

The switching back and forth from after George’s death to when he was alive is handled very well and does help to keep things interesting but really the story is quite simple - did he kill himself or was he murdered and if he was murdered who did it.  It's an interesting story but the film is devoid of any suspense, tension or surprises.  It is quite slow and I found myself hoping that the pace would pick up a little.

Hollywoodland
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The acting is good and if I had to single out anyone it would have to be Ben Affleck who portrays George as a restless but likeable character – a character that can see the funnier side of playing the superhero - a superhero that was loved by kids but who in some ways prevented George from making the jump from the little screen to the big screen.

Bottom Line: An interesting true story – good acting – lacks suspense and the pace is slow.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2007.

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RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS: ADRIEN BRODY: The Village.  DIANE LANE: The Perfect Storm,  Under The Tuscan Sun,  Unfaithful.  BEN AFFLECK: Changing Lanes,  Daredevil,  Pay Check,  Pearl Harbor,  The Sum Of All Fears.  BOB HOSKINS: Maid In Manhattan.  LOIS SMITH: Minority Report.  ROBIN TUNNEY: Vertical Limit.

Main Cast

Adrien Brody

Diane Lane

Ben Affleck

Bob Hoskins

Lois Smith

Robin Tunney

RATING

WORTH A WATCH

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