HOLLYWOODLAND (2006) |
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Starring Adrien Brody,
Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, Bob Hoskins, Lois Smith, Robin Tunney, Molly
Parker, Zach Mills, Caroline Dhavernas, Jeffrey DeMunn, Dash Mihok,
Kevin Hare, Joe Spano, Kathleen Robertson, Phillip MacKenzie, Larry
Cedar, Neil Crone, Gareth Williams, Lorry Ayers and Jason Spevack.
Screenplay by
Paul Bernbaum.
Directed by Allen
Coulter.
Distributed by Focus Features. 126 minutes. Rated
R. |
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Hollywoodland
It took real guts for Ben
Affleck to take the role of George Reeves -- the former TV Superman
who died in 1959 of a gunshot wound to the head. At the time it was
determined that Reeves killed himself, however ever since there has been
much speculation as to whether it was murder.
Of course, the young death
is not what was brave of Affleck to portray, it was the old actor's life
before that fatal night. For George Reeves' career has all too many
parallels to Affleck's own. He started off with untapped potential in
Gone With the Wind, but due to life and bad breaks and a series of
unimpressive roles his career soon fizzled. Eventually, he was given
the role that made him famous -- and also one that he found a bit demeaning
and silly -- but he was never taken seriously again, even when he finally
made it back into the cast of From Here To Eternity, a major,
critically acclaimed film.
All the J.Lo stuff and the
Armageddons and the Giglis and the Jersey Girls have
also dimmed Affleck's star. So he steps into this film as the third
lead -- a character who only appears in flashback, playing an actor whose
best days are long past him. In the process, he has done his best role
in years and may have single-handedly revived his career, which before this
was starting to seem like a stagnant joke. Hollywoodland
reminds us of his potential and his charm, and if he is not nominated as
Best Supporting Actor, then something is wrong.
If you go into
Hollywoodland expecting a definitive statement on what happened that
night, you will be disappointed. The film offers three potential
solutions and allows the audience to decide what they believe.
However, if you are looking for a fascinating biopic about a nearly
forgotten classic Hollywood mystery, then you are in for a treat.
(9/06)
Jay
S. Jacobs
Copyright ©2006
PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted: September 8, 2006. 
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Copyright ©2006
PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted: September 8, 2006.
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