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The Black Dahlia (2006): In Cinemas
A John Doe Cinema Review
The Black Dahlia
In Cinemas: November 23 2006
Director: Brian De Palma
Writer: Josh Friedman
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Scarlet Johansson, Mia Kirschner, Josh Hartnett, Hilary Swank, Rose McGowan
Cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond (Ghost and The darkness, Blow Out, heavens gate, Deer Hunter, Close Encounters, Deliverance, McCabe and Mrs Miller)
Score:Mark Isham
“Hollywood will fuck you when no-one else will”.-Russ Milland
Director Brian De Palma (Hi Mom, Greetings, Sisters, Obsession) started his career as Alfred Hitchcock’s protégé, spending hours dissecting cinema, the master taught the apprentice about the art of cinematic suspense, tension and storytelling.
Taking what he learned he has forged a career full of soaring highs (Blow Out, Dressed To Kill, Carrie, Scarface, Carlito’s Way, The Untouchables) and hide your face in shame lows. (Snake Eyes, Bonfire of The Vanities, Mission To Mars)
Inspired by a true life unsolved mystery, his latest film The Black Dahlia, based on crime novelist James Ellroy’s (L.A Confidential, White Jazz, Brown’s Requiem, Cop) book of the same name, is an old school tale of murder, deceit and of course the Directors trademark, obsession.
Set in the 1940’s, this hardboiled story is told through the eyes and narration of Officer Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert (Josh Hartnett), a soft spoken L.A Cop and sometimes boxer.
The film opens with Bucky in a fundraising glove fight against take no shit Sgt Leland “Lee” Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart), reputations preceding them; they are nicknamed Fire and Ice.
The pair become buddies and soon partners, forming a happy but tenuous trio with Lee’s wife Kay Lake (Scarlet Johansson).
“Kay was always there. Always in the middle, but never between us"-Bucky
Lives intertwine, partners on the street, they are assigned to solve the now infamous Black Dahlia murder. An aspiring young actress’ body, Elizabeth “Betty” Short (Mia Kirschner) is found brutally mutilated and viciously dissected, shaking up Hollywoodland and the LAPD.
“The victim has been cut in half, all the organs removed, blood drained from the body, and the mouth sliced ear to ear"-Lee
Reluctantly following separate clues that lead through the seedy LA underground and all the way up to wealthy city landowners. The case begins taking very different physical and psychological tolls on the duo and their relationships.
“Nothing stays buried forever. Nothing”-Bucky
Recreating the era faultlessly, the plot twist and turns, revealing scenes of sex and violence while examining the nature of evil and the power of lust and money.
John Doe says:
Owing a debt to Chinatown, I enjoyed this film, but I won’t blow smoke up your ass and tell you it is a good movie, it’s a guilty pleasure.
I’m a sucker for De Palma’s sweeping visuals, obvious homage’s and ambiguous storytelling, hell I even enjoyed the atrocious Femme Fatale. (I draw the line at Snake Eyes and Mission to Mars)
This film is no where near as bad as those and it does have a lot to offer.
Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond’s (Deer Hunter, Close Encounters, Deliverance, Blow Out) camera work is breathtaking. The musical score is atmospheric and enhances the displacement of time. There is no faulting the technical prowess on display and the story is full of rich, memorable characters.
The mighty Aaron Eckahart (Thank You For Smoking, Thursday, In the Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbours, The Pledge) inhabits the role of a hard nosed, off the rails cop, convincing and entertaining equally.
The downfall of the whole thing is that the script collapses under its sub textual weight and is far more complex than it needs to be. The screenplay is not a complete loss with some quotable dialogue and an ear for the period.
Equally damaging is the miscasting of key roles. Hilary Swank (Beverly Hills 90210) as a overtly sexual being with an inconsistent southern drawl is comedic, its meant to be sexy but it’s uncomfortable to watch as she over plays every breath and wiggle.
Scarlet Johansson (Ghost World, Lost in Translation) is just a pretty face in this, admittedly the character is under written but she is clearly out of her depth. In the hands of a more talented thespian a lot could have been said without words. As it is she serves well as eye candy, for those who need to know, she does wear some skimpy costumes but we never get any nudity or for that matter erotic energy.
Josh Hartnett’s (Virgin Suicides, Sin City, Black Hawk Down) blank stare and unmoving features are used effectively here and though far from perfect he holds his own. (It is quite funny to see the strain on his face as he attempts to weep)
The Black Dahlia is a failed masterpiece, aspiring to be something great the narrative tears at the seams, like a snake eating its tail, it just ends up going in circles when it should move forward.
Rumours are abound that the DVD release will be a directors cut with over an hour of exorcised footage to fill in some plot holes and unintentional questions.
It would have been interesting to see the original Director David Fincher’s (Fight Club, Se7en, The Game) 3 hr black and white take on the story, he pulled out due to studio interference.
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Scarlet Johansson, Mia Kirschner, Josh Hartnett, Hilary Swank, Rose McGowan
Cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond (Ghost and The darkness, Blow Out, heavens gate, Deer Hunter, Close Encounters, Deliverance, McCabe and Mrs Miller)
Score:Mark Isham
“Hollywood will fuck you when no-one else will”.-Russ Milland
Director Brian De Palma (Hi Mom, Greetings, Sisters, Obsession) started his career as Alfred Hitchcock’s protégé, spending hours dissecting cinema, the master taught the apprentice about the art of cinematic suspense, tension and storytelling.
Taking what he learned he has forged a career full of soaring highs (Blow Out, Dressed To Kill, Carrie, Scarface, Carlito’s Way, The Untouchables) and hide your face in shame lows. (Snake Eyes, Bonfire of The Vanities, Mission To Mars)
Inspired by a true life unsolved mystery, his latest film The Black Dahlia, based on crime novelist James Ellroy’s (L.A Confidential, White Jazz, Brown’s Requiem, Cop) book of the same name, is an old school tale of murder, deceit and of course the Directors trademark, obsession.
Set in the 1940’s, this hardboiled story is told through the eyes and narration of Officer Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert (Josh Hartnett), a soft spoken L.A Cop and sometimes boxer.
The film opens with Bucky in a fundraising glove fight against take no shit Sgt Leland “Lee” Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart), reputations preceding them; they are nicknamed Fire and Ice.
The pair become buddies and soon partners, forming a happy but tenuous trio with Lee’s wife Kay Lake (Scarlet Johansson).
“Kay was always there. Always in the middle, but never between us"-Bucky
Lives intertwine, partners on the street, they are assigned to solve the now infamous Black Dahlia murder. An aspiring young actress’ body, Elizabeth “Betty” Short (Mia Kirschner) is found brutally mutilated and viciously dissected, shaking up Hollywoodland and the LAPD.
“The victim has been cut in half, all the organs removed, blood drained from the body, and the mouth sliced ear to ear"-Lee
Reluctantly following separate clues that lead through the seedy LA underground and all the way up to wealthy city landowners. The case begins taking very different physical and psychological tolls on the duo and their relationships.
“Nothing stays buried forever. Nothing”-Bucky
Recreating the era faultlessly, the plot twist and turns, revealing scenes of sex and violence while examining the nature of evil and the power of lust and money.
John Doe says:
Owing a debt to Chinatown, I enjoyed this film, but I won’t blow smoke up your ass and tell you it is a good movie, it’s a guilty pleasure.
I’m a sucker for De Palma’s sweeping visuals, obvious homage’s and ambiguous storytelling, hell I even enjoyed the atrocious Femme Fatale. (I draw the line at Snake Eyes and Mission to Mars)
This film is no where near as bad as those and it does have a lot to offer.
Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond’s (Deer Hunter, Close Encounters, Deliverance, Blow Out) camera work is breathtaking. The musical score is atmospheric and enhances the displacement of time. There is no faulting the technical prowess on display and the story is full of rich, memorable characters.
The mighty Aaron Eckahart (Thank You For Smoking, Thursday, In the Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbours, The Pledge) inhabits the role of a hard nosed, off the rails cop, convincing and entertaining equally.
The downfall of the whole thing is that the script collapses under its sub textual weight and is far more complex than it needs to be. The screenplay is not a complete loss with some quotable dialogue and an ear for the period.
Equally damaging is the miscasting of key roles. Hilary Swank (Beverly Hills 90210) as a overtly sexual being with an inconsistent southern drawl is comedic, its meant to be sexy but it’s uncomfortable to watch as she over plays every breath and wiggle.
Scarlet Johansson (Ghost World, Lost in Translation) is just a pretty face in this, admittedly the character is under written but she is clearly out of her depth. In the hands of a more talented thespian a lot could have been said without words. As it is she serves well as eye candy, for those who need to know, she does wear some skimpy costumes but we never get any nudity or for that matter erotic energy.
Josh Hartnett’s (Virgin Suicides, Sin City, Black Hawk Down) blank stare and unmoving features are used effectively here and though far from perfect he holds his own. (It is quite funny to see the strain on his face as he attempts to weep)
The Black Dahlia is a failed masterpiece, aspiring to be something great the narrative tears at the seams, like a snake eating its tail, it just ends up going in circles when it should move forward.
Rumours are abound that the DVD release will be a directors cut with over an hour of exorcised footage to fill in some plot holes and unintentional questions.
It would have been interesting to see the original Director David Fincher’s (Fight Club, Se7en, The Game) 3 hr black and white take on the story, he pulled out due to studio interference.
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Cib- I enjoyed it, but as I said its definetly not a good movie. I don't think it is worth a visit to the cinema, but may be worth a screening on DVD.