HOLLYWOODLAND

HOLLYWOODLAND is an entertaining and riveting look at Hollywood during the studio system days, which turns out to be a perfect marriage of biopic and crime thriller, based on the death of actor George Reeves.

Reeves was the handsome and talented actor who made his film debut in GONE WITH THE WIND but didn't become a household name until he accepted the starring role in a 1950's TV show called THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. Reeves death is documented in Hollywood legend as suicide, however, this movie offers evidence that could support the theory that Reeves was murdered. And from this premise, this movie cleverly offers the viewer two very riveting stories: first we have the story of Reeves, an actor who may not have been as good as he believed he was, whose career was pretty much at a stand still until he was offered the role of Superman.

According to Paul Bernbaum's carefully crafted screenplay, Reeves was the boy toy of Toni Mannix, the high strung wife of MGM General Manager Eddie Mannix, who may have thrown roadblocks in Reeves' career path to keep him dependent on her. And even though Reeves achieved a whole new level of fame as Superman, he is depicted here as hating every minute of it.

The other half of the story takes place after Reeves death where we meet a 2nd rate private dick named Louis Simo, who has been hired by Reeves' mother to prove that Reeves was murdered and it is the seamless blending of these two stories that make this film so compelling.

Allan Coulter's direction is rich in scope and creativity and he has pulled four powerhouse performances from his cast that keep this film sizzling: Adrien Brody is deliciously charismatic as Louis Simo, the world weary private detective who does summon images of Humphrey Bogart and Robert Mitchum; Diane Lane, in her best performance since UNFAITHFUL, chews up the scenery as the decadent diva Toni Mannix and Bob Hoskins makes the most of his somewhat underdeveloped role as Eddie Mannix; towering above all, in the film's biggest surprise, is a superb performance by Ben Affleck, yes, Ben Affleck, as the tortured and tragic Reeves...Affleck has never been more compelling on screen in a performance that should have gotten him an Oscar nomination ...Affleck completely loses himself in this role, peeling away the layers of Reeves for us, like an open sore, making Reeves a raw nerve to be savored with caution. Mention should also be made of a memorable supporting turn by Lois Smith as Reeves' mother.

First rate production design and costumes beautifully recreate the old Hollywood of the 1950's that some of us still miss. My only problem with the story is that after offering several other theories as to how Reeves may have died, the movie cops out at the end and seems to state that he killed himself after all...the film loses a rating point for that IMO, but other than that, a real movie buff's movie that will enthrall and, if you're in the right mindset, might even evoke some tears