Genre: Crime/Drama

Director: Brian De Palma

Certificate: The Black Dahlia  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 = strong. Drugs = none. Sex/Nudity = strong. Language = strong.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: The Black Dahlia

With The Black Dahlia Brian De Palma brings us a film based on a true story, and adapted from the novel by James McEllroy it supposedly tells us the story of the macabre murder of Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirschner) a wannabee actress living in Hollywood in the forties, but as the murder was never solved the plot relies on lots of theoretic as we see two L.A cops try to crack the mystery but ostensibly with their own individual agendas.

I say supposedly, because there are so many confusing subplots, it becomes lost in its own pomposity at times which is a great shame as it could have been something quite extraordinary.  It's a top cast headed by Scarlett Johansson (Kay Lake), Josh Hartnett (Officer Bucky Bliechert), Hilary Swank (Madeline Linscott) and Aaron Eckhart as Sgt Leland Blanchard.

To say this film is stylish is an understatement – it’s a visual feast of that there is no doubt, with a couple of scenes that will live with me for a long time.  However, at times it's very laboured, and I was waiting for a blistering finale to make up for that fact, but sadly that too fell well short of the mark leaving me with a real sense of disappointment.

It had such great potential and I can't say I didn't find The Black Dahlia entertaining but it seemed to completely lose itself just over halfway through - mainly due to a flat script, a chaotic plot, and a touch of over indulgence from De Palma.  I kept thinking L.A. Confidential and sadly although worthy in its own way, there is no comparison whatsoever.

Worth a DVD watch, but be prepared to find out very little about The Black Dahlia as she seems almost surplus to requirements in this movie.

Reviewed by Mary Kate, Premier Movie Reviews 2007

If you enjoy The Black Dahlia you might also enjoy Hollywoodland.

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