Directed by Brian De Palma, this 1940's-style film is an good adaptation of the novel (of the same name) written by the brilliant crime writer, James Ellroy. It was relesed in September 2006 and hosts a number of stars taking big roles including; Josh Hartnett (of 40 Days and 40 Nights), Scarlett Johansson (of Lost in Translation), Aaron Eckhart (of Erin Brockovich) and Hilary Swank (of Million Dollar Baby). I had read the novel and decided to see watch the film to see if it was all that i had imagined. It is a somewhat dark film, with the mystery and smokiness of the 1940's crime scene. Hartnett plays the role of Dwight "Bucky" Bleichart, an ex boxer who becomes a warrants officer for the LAPD after the war. He partners up with Eckharts character, Lee Blanchard, also an ex boxer, and they become a crime fighting duo named Fire & Ice. As they are busy chasing a rapist, the horrifically tortured body of an aspiring young actress gets found, and they get assigned to homicide to help catch the killer. The girl is named the "Black Dahlia" because of her always walking around in black clothing. As the story goes on, Blanchard becomes more and more obsessed with the case, straining his relationship with Kay Lake, played by Johansson. As Bucky moves forward in his investigations, he gets seduced by the enigmatic upper class character; Madeleine Linscott (Swank), the daughter of a prominent Hollywood family who has an unsettling resemblence to the murder victim. This story is a web of obsession, lust, mystery and corruption. Skeletons are constantly flown out of closets and keeps the viewer guessing. Although not completely true to the book, it is a good adaptation and captures the essence of the 1940's well. I particularly like the way that the viewer gets to feel the character of the dead girl through her casting films. The soundtrack is also good, the brass sounds of the 40's capture lustful moments one minute and sends chills down your spine the next.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Re-rated based on Ciao's insistence that such reviews are no longer considered "Off Topic"
Soho_Black 08.06.2007 11:11
I see you've posted this as a DVD review, but you've not mentioned the DVD. Are there any extras? If so, what are they and are they any good? If you add to this, or if you change it to be posted as a "Film Only" review, which can be done by accessing "edit review" above the review and changing the drop down menu under the "Which format are you reviewing?" question at the bottom, please let me know and I'll re-rate.
The Black Dahlia weaves a fictionalized tale of obsession, love, corruption, greed and ... more
depravity around the true story of the brutal murder of a fledgling Hollywood starlet that shocked and fascinated the nation in 1947 and remains unsolved today. Two ...
The Black Dahlia weaves a fictionalized tale of obsession love corruption greed and ... more
depravity around the true story of the brutal murder of a fledgling Hollywood starlet that shocked and fascinated the nation in 1947 and remains unsolved today. Two ...
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![The Black Dahlia [DVD] [2006]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78189382.jpg "The Black Dahlia [DVD] [2006]")
Jun 1st, 2007
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