2008 Woodie Awards
Nightmare Hollywoodland
A confusing plot and poor acting make The Black Dahlia the fall's first flop
Katie Levine '07
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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The trailers for The Black Dahlia portray it as a film noir mystery-L.A. Confidential-style-that is based around the 1947 unsolved murder of would-be actress Elizabeth Short. It stars a talented cast of characters directed by Brian De Palma (Scarface, The Untouchables). All the makings of an incredible film.
But the notorious murder featured in the advertisements plays only a small (and unnecessarily gruesome) part in this jumble of excessive storylines that make up a largely disappointing and unsatisfactory film.
Josh Hartnett plays Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert, a Los Angeles police officer who quickly moves up the ranks because of his past as a professional boxer. He partners with Sgt. Leland "Lee" Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart), and the two go to work successfully collaring criminals in the city. During the first third of the film, Bucky cultivates an unusually close relationship with Lee and his girlfriend Kay Lake (Scarlett Johansson).
This threesome lives together in bliss until the mutilated body of Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirshner) is discovered on the outskirts of town. Bucky and Lee take the case and everything falls apart. In the course of his investigation, Bucky becomes involved with heiress Madeleine Linscott (Hillary Swank) and discovers that she has a disturbing connection to the murder.
Avoiding any spoilers, the film quickly turns into a twisted, confusing mess of betrayals, murders, sex, and lesbians. OK, so this sounds pretty cool on paper, but in reality it's just weird.
The Black Dahlia tries to pack way too many storylines into one film. The movie itself could not even fully articulate its own plot. It begins with a long, boring introduction to the characters (by means of a random boxing scene) meant to create an emotional connection with the audience. Needless to say, this doesn't work.
Usually, at the end of a good mystery, the main character has a revelation and divulges his solution to the audience (of course clues were expertly scattered throughout the film). The Black Dahlia may actually have made the Guinness Book of World Records for a record number of "reveal" scenes. After each one, I expected the credits to start rolling, but the scenes just kept on coming.
But the notorious murder featured in the advertisements plays only a small (and unnecessarily gruesome) part in this jumble of excessive storylines that make up a largely disappointing and unsatisfactory film.
Josh Hartnett plays Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert, a Los Angeles police officer who quickly moves up the ranks because of his past as a professional boxer. He partners with Sgt. Leland "Lee" Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart), and the two go to work successfully collaring criminals in the city. During the first third of the film, Bucky cultivates an unusually close relationship with Lee and his girlfriend Kay Lake (Scarlett Johansson).
This threesome lives together in bliss until the mutilated body of Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirshner) is discovered on the outskirts of town. Bucky and Lee take the case and everything falls apart. In the course of his investigation, Bucky becomes involved with heiress Madeleine Linscott (Hillary Swank) and discovers that she has a disturbing connection to the murder.
Avoiding any spoilers, the film quickly turns into a twisted, confusing mess of betrayals, murders, sex, and lesbians. OK, so this sounds pretty cool on paper, but in reality it's just weird.
The Black Dahlia tries to pack way too many storylines into one film. The movie itself could not even fully articulate its own plot. It begins with a long, boring introduction to the characters (by means of a random boxing scene) meant to create an emotional connection with the audience. Needless to say, this doesn't work.
Usually, at the end of a good mystery, the main character has a revelation and divulges his solution to the audience (of course clues were expertly scattered throughout the film). The Black Dahlia may actually have made the Guinness Book of World Records for a record number of "reveal" scenes. After each one, I expected the credits to start rolling, but the scenes just kept on coming.