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Hollywood-land
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Starring: Adrien Brody
Genre:
Drama
Run Time: 126
min.
Release Date:
September 2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Anyone wanting a bit of old
Hollywood gossip-cum-conspiracy-theory will be pleased with
HOLLYWOODLAND. In the able hands of THE SOPRANOS director
Allen Coulter, the period feel is palpable, too, as is some surprisingly
good acting from lead actor Ben Affleck as the Man of Steel, George
Reeves.
For those not in the know, George Reeves played Superman for Warner
Brothers in the 50s and spawned a hero for kids and adults alike. But
the truth behind the series’ success was that Reeves wanted to do more
than just leap tall buildings in a single bound. Trying to break out of
the mold of Superman became super-impossible as we witness his attempts
to become a serious actor.
Being held static was just the tip of Superman’s kryptonite, which
reveals itself as the sexy and dangerous Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), wife
to Warner Brother’s manager Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins (MRS. HENDERSON
PRESENTS). Eddie and Toni have an “open marriage,” meaning that each
can have affairs with whomever they want, but divorce is out of the
question. When Toni takes a liking to George Reeves (Affleck), she
forces his life into her hands, making him not just her lover but a sort
of male concubine.
As the story of George Reeves “suicide” progresses, the audience is
pulled along via a fictitious private investigator named Louis Simo (Adrien
Brody, KING KONG) who is given the tip that Superman’s death may
not have been by his own hand. Louis tries to dig for the truth, only to
butt heads with Eddie Mannix and those who want Reeves' case to remain
labeled a suicide. Whether or not Reeves did kill himself is left up to
the viewers interpretation, something that pulls this film up a notch in
terms of not spelling everything out for watchers.
The big draw was — to the surprise of many — the excellent portrayal of
George Reeves by the previously wooden or forced Ben Affleck. Trying to
erase the stain that was GIGLI or SURVIVING CHRISTMAS
might seem impossible but Affleck does it, proving he has acting in his
blood and just needs to open a vein and let it leech out into parts that
he feels strongly about (apparently he listened to every recording ever
made by Reeves and watched all of the Superman TV episodes).
Although Adrien Brody got top billing for the film, it is really Affleck
that deserved it. Without his excellent take on Reeves, this flick
could’ve easily flopped. Nothing can be taken away from Brody, though.
His Louis Simo character is charming, funny, and poignant, but feels too
far removed from the real incidents surrounding Reeves’ death to make
him the mainstay of the movie.
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Image from Hollywoodland
DVD cost: $24.99
Purchase:
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Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The Alvis automobile
George Reeves is shown washing in the film is an extremely rare model
that was shipped to the location for use in the movie, as it is one of
the few existing examples of the car Reeves actually owned.
Movie Quote: "Your
husband is the general manager of MGM."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Hollywoodland
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