Today’s quick review: Hollywoodland. Looking for a quick buck, Los Angeles private eye Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) takes a job investigating the apparent suicide of George Reeves (Ben Affleck), the actor who played Superman. His digging turns up motives for several people to want George dead, including his fiance Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) and his ex-lover Toni Mannix (Diane Lane). But with no evidence to prove foul play, Louis is left empty-handed.
Hollywoodland is a crime drama and mystery based on the real-world death of George Reeves. The film explores the circumstances surrounding Reeves’ death from the perspective of Louis Simo, a down-on-his-luck detective who becomes obsessed with the case. Hard questions, artful presentation, and a healthy serving of genuine scandal from the Golden Age of Hollywood give Hollywoodland the tools it needs to put together a haunting mystery.
Hollywoodland asks questions that have no easy answers. There is more to Reeves’ suicide than meets the eye, but not all of the clues point in the same direction. The farther Louis gets into his investigation, the less he seems to know, as the details of the case pull him in different directions. The film plays its hand carefully, setting up Louis and the audience to explore one hypothesis after another until the investigation reaches its conclusion.
The ambiguous nature of the crime fits well with the noir aspects of the film. Louis Simo has the bad luck and dogged persistence of any hard-boiled detective, but the nuances of his personality help establish him as his own unique character. The flashbacks with George Reeves balance out Louis’ half of the story nicely. George’s superficial charm masks deeper uncertainties about his acting career and personal life, giving the movie some needed depth.
The end result is a tangled mystery that offers a glimpse of Hollywood’s lurid underbelly. Hollywoodland’s rich character work, sprawling investigation, and detailed historical setting make it a compelling watch for the right viewer. Anyone interested in a melancholy, open-ended crime drama should give it a shot. However, the movie has a distinctive flavor that won’t appeal to everyone. Those unwilling to take it on its own terms should steer clear.
For a more comedic take on the scandals of 50s Hollywood, try Hail, Caesar!. For an offbeat comedy set in Hollywood a decade later, try Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. For an elaborate, fictional crime drama set in 1950s Los Angeles, try L.A. Confidential. For another haunting, open-ended mystery based on a true story, try Zodiac.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for solid craftsmanship and a nuanced plot.