Hollywoodland (2006)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Allen Coulter

Writer (WGA):

Paul Bernbaum (written by)

Release Date:

8 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | History | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Living in Holly wood can make you famous. Dying in Hollywood can make you a legend.

Plot:

A detective examines the mysterious death of George Reeves, TV's Superman.

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Death | Superman | Fame | Suicide

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Adrien Brody	...	Louis Simo
Diane Lane	...	Toni Mannix
Ben Affleck	...	George Reeves
Bob Hoskins	...	Eddie Mannix
Robin Tunney	...	Leonore Lemmon
Kathleen Robertson	...	Carol Van Ronkel
Lois Smith	...	Helen Bessolo
Phillip MacKenzie	...	Bill Bliss
Larry Cedar	...	Chester Sinclair
Eric Kaldor	...	Barbell Man (as Eric Kolder)
Caroline Dhavernas	...	Kit Holliday
Kevin Hare	...	Robert Condon
Molly Parker	...	Laurie Simo
Zach Mills	...	Evan Simo
Neil Crone	...	Chuck

Also Known As:

Truth, Justice, and the American Way (USA) (working title)
Untitled George Reeves Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and sexual content.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Finland:K-13 | France:Unrated | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | USA:R (certificate #42223) | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | UK:15 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

City Hall - 200 N. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Back Lot Pictures

Trivia:

The film was originally entitled Truth, Justice, and the American Way (after Superman's famous catchphrase). However, DC Comics (which owns the rights to the Superman character) refused to allow that. It also did not allow the Superman "S" insignia to be used in any of the trailers or promotional material of the film, but oddly enough allowed it to be in the actual movie.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Louis Simo gives his son an Etch-A-Sketch, even though the toy was not sold in the USA until a year later in 1960.

Quotes:

Art Weissman: [to George Reeves] An actor can't always act - sometimes he has to *work*.

Movie Connections:

Featured in MovieReal: Hollywoodland (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sin un amor

A powerful and moving film with a great performance by Diane Lane

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this film. I had seen the great trailer several times and thankfully the film more than lives up to the quality of the trailers. The film is an exploration of fame and what that might cost. It is also the story of three people... Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), and George Reeves (Ben Affleck). When Reeves body is found, Simo looks into the apparent suicide and starts to uncover very disturbing things including the torrid affair Reeves was having with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane).

The film is superbly acted. Everyone here is at the top of their game. Affleck and Brody have never been better, and Bob Hoskins is very intimidating as Ed Mannix (Diane Lane's husband). But it is Diane Lane who gives the standout performance here as a woman who starts off as a confident seducer and ends as a volatile and distraught shell. It is an amazing performance that is both sexy and heart-wrenching. Affleck is also touching and sympathetic as Reeves.

The cinematography is amazing and the story is intelligently written and told. It manages to be both fascinating, interesting and entertaining. The films 126 minutes fly by and the film is very engrossing. Top that with some great performances including an Oscar worthy turn by Diane Lane, and you have one of the best films of 2006 so far. 10/10.