Two detectives are put on the case of the Black Dahlia murder. While tracking down the killer as partners, they also must face each other as rivals for the woman they both love.
The marketing for this film was misleading, let me say that first of all. The film appeared to be something like a horror film in the trailers, but really has no horror elements at all (despite the grotesque murder of Betty Short). Furthermore, the assumption is that the film would be about the Black Dahlia (with a title like "The Black Dahlia) but this was really a background issue to the romance storyline.
It could have been a horror film, but wasn't. As my friend Trixie said, it was "one Chinaman short of a horror film." You take that to mean whatever you choose.
The creative forces behind this are some of the best. Directed by Brian dePalma ("Scarface", "Untouchables", "Carrie", and the Courtney Cox favorite "Dancing in the Dark") and written by James Ellroy ("LA Confidential"). I'm not a biog enough follower of dePalma to really pinpoint his stylistic work in this, but Ellroy's work is clear: like "La Confidential", there are multiple layers of storyline, and you're not likely to get everything in the first viewing.
Ellroy's intricacies were actually my biggest problem with the film. For a city as large as Los Angeles, there seem to be a surprisingly small amount of people who do anything in this film, and things are more interconnected than one would imagine. How are murder, real estate, film-making and child molesting connected? You'll find out by the end of this one...
But, if I suspend my beliefs, this is a beautiful work of art. The acting is great, the directing wonderful. The lighting is the best, giving the film a gritty, back alley appearance... the world of pimps and gangs like one would imagine it to be.
Scarlett Johannsen was very good, though I don't know if she was the right one for this role. Josh Hartnett, in contrast, was perfect. A few years ago I would have said he would never amount to anything beyond a pretty boy, but this film says otherwise: he is a strong lead and carries the full maturity and seriousness of a seasoned actor. (While retaining those looks for the ladies.) The film is a bit slower than most, as there is much to digest in the short time we have to feast upon it. But if you are patient and perceptive, this is the film for you. (If you need constant stimulation, you'll fall asleep.) Give me a second viewing, and I might even give the film an 8. (My opinion was skewed in that I didn't know the proper mindset with which to enter the film.)
The marketing for this film was misleading, let me say that first of all. The film appeared to be something like a horror film in the trailers, but really has no horror elements at all (despite the grotesque murder of Betty Short). Furthermore, the assumption is that the film would be about the Black Dahlia (with a title like "The Black Dahlia) but this was really a background issue to the romance storyline.
It could have been a horror film, but wasn't. As my friend Trixie said, it was "one Chinaman short of a horror film." You take that to mean whatever you choose.
The creative forces behind this are some of the best. Directed by Brian dePalma ("Scarface", "Untouchables", "Carrie", and the Courtney Cox favorite "Dancing in the Dark") and written by James Ellroy ("LA Confidential"). I'm not a biog enough follower of dePalma to really pinpoint his stylistic work in this, but Ellroy's work is clear: like "La Confidential", there are multiple layers of storyline, and you're not likely to get everything in the first viewing.
Ellroy's intricacies were actually my biggest problem with the film. For a city as large as Los Angeles, there seem to be a surprisingly small amount of people who do anything in this film, and things are more interconnected than one would imagine. How are murder, real estate, film-making and child molesting connected? You'll find out by the end of this one...
But, if I suspend my beliefs, this is a beautiful work of art. The acting is great, the directing wonderful. The lighting is the best, giving the film a gritty, back alley appearance... the world of pimps and gangs like one would imagine it to be.
Scarlett Johannsen was very good, though I don't know if she was the right one for this role. Josh Hartnett, in contrast, was perfect. A few years ago I would have said he would never amount to anything beyond a pretty boy, but this film says otherwise: he is a strong lead and carries the full maturity and seriousness of a seasoned actor. (While retaining those looks for the ladies.) The film is a bit slower than most, as there is much to digest in the short time we have to feast upon it. But if you are patient and perceptive, this is the film for you. (If you need constant stimulation, you'll fall asleep.) Give me a second viewing, and I might even give the film an 8. (My opinion was skewed in that I didn't know the proper mindset with which to enter the film.)