The Black Dahlia

Year of release : 2006

Run time : 2h01min

Genre : Neo Noir / Crime / Thriller

Cast : Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Aaron Eckhart, Josh Hartnett, Mia Kirshner, Rose McGowan

Director : Brian de Palma

The movie is based on the 1987 James Ellroy novel of the same name.

In 1946 LAPD detectives,and former boxers, Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert and Lee Blanchard are paired together, after engaging in a box match to raise public support for the police department.

After almost winning, Bucky loses to Lee,and they become best friends, along with Lee's girlfriend, Kay. The 3 of them become inseparable.

 

On the 15th of January 1947, Elizabeth Short's body is found dismembered, and she is nicknamed 'The Black Dahlia' by the press. Apparently they used to name the crimes they found the most atrocious.

As they start to investigate her murder, Lee seems to start falling apart,as it turns out the murder reminds him of his sister who died in a similar way when she was very young.

Also, gangster Bobby deWitt is to be released from jail, and Kay is branded with his initials on her lower back. The gangster's arrest and conviction for a bank robbery is what made Lee's career.

Short is characterized through the 'flickers' or videos they find of her from the auditions and the adult movies she made. She seemed sad, as she lost the man she loved in the war, and wanting to become a movie star, she decided to do whatever it takes to get there.

The movie opens with the box match,and is narrated all way through by Bucky. Bucky is all over the place, as he can't decide what woman he wants, the former prostitute, Kay, or the loose socialite, Madeleine.

They keep on saying Hilary Swank looks like Mia Kirshner,when they look nothing alike,they don't even have the same face structure! Jemima Rooper is the one who kinda looked like Hilary.

 

The movie is filmed in Brian de Palma's style, with his famous close ups and falls ( I loved the way Lee's murder was filmed,just like de Palma's old movies,and the soundtrack matched). It's filmed in this brownish colors, as if to suggest being shot decades ago. I liked how the movie was filmed, with the close-ups, and the first person point of view,like we see through their eyes.

Although the movie premiered at the Venice Film Festival,and was nominated for the Golden Lion, and it was even nominated for an Oscar,in the Best Cinematography category , it had mostly negative reviews from critics,and was a box office flop.

Viewer discretion is advised,as the movie contains mature content, language and nudity.

I personally didn't like the movie, I watched it back when it was released,and now, and still didn't like it.It bored me until the end. The reveal at the end was worth all the money,but it still doesn't give a reason why.

The actors were good, although Hilary and Scarlett both act in a weird way which I don't like. Usually is the way the femmes fatale act ( which their characters are),but it's not good acting.

I didn't like the soundtrack,but at times was really good. Speaking of music, K.D. Lang makes a cameo in the club.

 

The movie is for rent / sale on Amazon, AppleTv, Fandango at Home.

Rating : Could have been a contender !