The mysterious and unexpected death of an iconic Hollywood star may be just the tip of an iceberg of scandal in this showbiz drama based on a true story. George Reeves (played by Ben Affleck) was a journeyman actor who had played a small role in Gone With the Wind and appeared onscreen with the likes of James Cagney, Rita Hayworth, and Marlene Dietrich, but his career was not exactly booming when he was cast as comic-book hero Superman in a 1951 B-movie, Superman and the Mole Men. A year later,
the producers of the movie launched a syndicated Superman television series with Reeves returning as "The Man of Steel." The show became a major hit, and Reeves was a star at last. However, on June 16, 1959, to the shock of many, Reeves was found dead of a gunshot wound. Police soon declared Reeves' death a suicide and closed the case, but his mother (Lois Smith) refused to believe her son took his own life, and hired Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), a private detective, to find out the truth about her son's passing. Simo found that many Hollywood insiders did not care to cooperate as he researched the Reeves case, but his digging uncovered plenty of evidence suggesting the actor did not take his own life, and he also revealed one of Reeves' deepest secrets -- while he was engaged to marry a pretty young starlet, Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney), Reeves was also carrying on an affair with the beautiful Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), the wife of Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins), a powerful and ill-tempered executive at MGM. While the producers of Hollywoodland based their story on factual accounts of the investigation into the death of George Reeves, they were denied permission to use the Superman logo and the familiar introduction to the Adventures of Superman television show by the respective copyright holders. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Despite a stellar cast, Coulter and screenwriter Paul Bernbaum can’t decide whether to plumb the depths of 'noir' or tug at the heartstrings of failed ambition.
Like Ben from Bennifer, George Reeves aspired to be a Great Actor, but was weighed down by audience expectations. Affleck does a terrific job with this role.
May not have all the answers about the death of one of the icons behind the big red 'S,' but by gathering one of the better ensembles of the year, it makes the legend interesting again.
Hollywoodland is a fictionalisation of the circumstances surrounding the death of George Reeves whose first acting role was in the legendary Gone With The Wind but found fame as the TV incarnation of Superman. Aping the Noiresque feel of 40s and 50s detective movies, Adrien Brody is excellent as the down at heel,
ambulance chasing private eye who is more interested in self aggrandizement than justice, as is Ben Affleck who puts in a fine performance as the charming rogue who feels he is better than the lot in life he has been handed. Sensitively directed with a nice sense of period, this is not a lurid true crime story, more a character study with an intelligently plotted investigative spin and it works really well. Those expecting a slam-bang finale may be disappointed but it has a poignancy that rounded off the story perfectly for me. Not in the same league as L.A. Confidential but head and shoulders above the likes of The Black Dahlia.
April 28, 2007
xGary Xx
Super Reviewer
The only reason Hollywood isn't considered a modern classic is because it was Ben Affleck's follow up to Gigli. This has an amazing sense of style and storytelling ability. I like the idea of having a plot revolve around the three main theories around George Reeve's death and not just a gradual progression like in most
detective stories. Adrien Brody's surprisingly dead on likeness to a film noir detective is what really makes the movie though. Without his dynamite performance and anchor to the mystery, no one would care what happened to Superman.
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