Hollywoodland (2006)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  This is a slick period piece with some great production values that concerns the final days and mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of actor George Reeves, the original Superman before Christopher took over the role for the films. It looks at Reeves, but mostly follows the… More
  This is a slick period piece with some great production values that concerns the final days and mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of actor George Reeves, the original Superman before Christopher took over the role for the films. It looks at Reeves, but mostly follows the efforts of a private eye determined to figure out the truth behind what really happened and why. The concept and set up are great, but the results are unfulfilling. This one is really trying to swing for the fences and place itself amonsgt the ranks of Chinatown (possibly) or L.A. Confidential. It's a noble try, but it doesn't quite make it. The performances are actually pretty decent, especially from Affleck and Brody, but the story is meandering, plodding, and not as gripping as it needed to be. It's a bit of a bore, and doesn't really provide the insight I was hoping it might. I dug the technical side of things, and there are some good sequences, but ultimately this is just an unfocused bore.

• moon r

  
  A detective investigating the suicide death of a famous TV actor is the entry point for this informed discussion about some of the effects of our society's fixation on celebrity. Brody's great as a smart detective who's not famous for anything, totally unaware how… More
  A detective investigating the suicide death of a famous TV actor is the entry point for this informed discussion about some of the effects of our society's fixation on celebrity. Brody's great as a smart detective who's not famous for anything, totally unaware how desperately wants to be, while Affleck's spot-on as George Reeves, who was famous, only not the way he wanted to be and consequently unappreciative of what fame he had. I learned many things about one of my childhood heroes I hadn't known before ... and a little about myself too.

• xGary X

  
  Hollywoodland is a fictionalisation of the circumstances surrounding the death of George Reeves whose first acting role was in the legendary Gone With The Wind but found fame as the TV incarnation of Superman. Aping the Noiresque feel of 40s and 50s detective movies, Adrien Brody is… More
  Hollywoodland is a fictionalisation of the circumstances surrounding the death of George Reeves whose first acting role was in the legendary Gone With The Wind but found fame as the TV incarnation of Superman. Aping the Noiresque feel of 40s and 50s detective movies, Adrien Brody is excellent as the down at heel, ambulance chasing private eye who is more interested in self aggrandizement than justice, as is Ben Affleck who puts in a fine performance as the charming rogue who feels he is better than the lot in life he has been handed. Sensitively directed with a nice sense of period, this is not a lurid true crime story, more a character study with an intelligently plotted investigative spin and it works really well. Those expecting a slam-bang finale may be disappointed but it has a poignancy that rounded off the story perfectly for me. Not in the same league as L.A. Confidential but head and shoulders above the likes of The Black Dahlia.

• Conner R

  
  The only reason Hollywood isn't considered a modern classic is because it was Ben Affleck's follow up to Gigli. This has an amazing sense of style and storytelling ability. I like the idea of having a plot revolve around the three main theories around George Reeve's… More
  The only reason Hollywood isn't considered a modern classic is because it was Ben Affleck's follow up to Gigli. This has an amazing sense of style and storytelling ability. I like the idea of having a plot revolve around the three main theories around George Reeve's death and not just a gradual progression like in most detective stories. Adrien Brody's surprisingly dead on likeness to a film noir detective is what really makes the movie though. Without his dynamite performance and anchor to the mystery, no one would care what happened to Superman.

• familiar s

  
  Prior to watching this movie, I didn't know anything about who George Reeves was. The name was totally new for me. Fortunately, this ignorance turned out to be a bliss for me. Regarding the movie, (before watching it) I only knew that it's based on true events and related to… More
  Prior to watching this movie, I didn't know anything about who George Reeves was. The name was totally new for me. Fortunately, this ignorance turned out to be a bliss for me. Regarding the movie, (before watching it) I only knew that it's based on true events and related to crime genre. That compelled me to go for it. The movie depicts the death of George Reeves, who gained name & fame through the Superman TV series, playing the title role, and the mystery surrounding it. Adrien Brody plays detective Louis Simo who investigates it, among other things. The movie is a bit slow, but it was worth it for me. I'd already predicted the ending (despite of not knowing a bit about George Reeves). Generally, I don't like movies with predictable ending, but this was exceptionally great. The only thing for which I didn't care was what happens to Louis Simo's relationships in his personal life. I was interested when he played detective, but his interactions with his son & ex-wife kinda bored me. Adrien Brody was incredible (I didn't like him in 'The Pianist') as almost fictionalized character Louis Simo. Ben Affleck was a bit unconvincing. Other actors performed their part well. I don't know if those who already know about George Reeves would like this or not, but I liked it despite knowing the ending. Recommended for sure if you like this type of movies ('Memories Of Murder' often popped up while I was watching this flick).

• Jennifer D

  
  Uhhhh, well. Sometimes I think I run out things to say on mediocre films. The acting was good. I very much appreciated Affleck's attempt at the 40s actor speak. You know that standard "American" dialect all actors were trained to have. I'll give him an A on that… More
  Uhhhh, well. Sometimes I think I run out things to say on mediocre films. The acting was good. I very much appreciated Affleck's attempt at the 40s actor speak. You know that standard "American" dialect all actors were trained to have. I'll give him an A on that one. I think my biggest hitch was the execution of the story. One of those things were lots of little things add up to a lot. Eh.

• Clintus M

  
  Seen through the eyes of down and out private eye Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), Hollywoodland is a poignant, tragic story that tugs at the heart of the viewer though most characters emerge as unsympathetic. It's the sordid tale of sex, resentment, personal and professional tragedy,… More
  Seen through the eyes of down and out private eye Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), Hollywoodland is a poignant, tragic story that tugs at the heart of the viewer though most characters emerge as unsympathetic. It's the sordid tale of sex, resentment, personal and professional tragedy, and ultimately suicide. (or was it murder?) Hollywoodland is a mystery with no easy answers, but the story illuminates Hollywood's darker side. It explores the contrast and dissimilarity between actors' personal lives and screen personas. Because of this, the choice of Ben Affleck to play the role of 50s TV superman George Reeves is so appropriate. Affleck's prior roles and his very public relationship with the press make him an obvious choice for the role, which he pulls off brilliantly. You could pose the question of either Affleck or Reeves: paparazzi victim or mediocre opportunist? As for the rest of the cast, Brody plays a complex character convincingly and Diane Lane's Toni Mannix is sexy, conniving, and desperate. This movie has perfect casting. Director Allen Coulter nails the style and aura of seedy 1950s Hollywood as well. Even the cinematography is outstanding; LA of the 50s is recreated. This is neither a documentary nor biopic, so don't get distracted by the details. It is a recreation of one incident in the context of a different era, the noir truth behind the sunny Hollywood illusion.

• danny d

  
  inconsistent. the parts featuring affleck detailing george reeves story were pretty uniformly solid, but the adrien brody sub plot went from moments of entertainment to moments of uncomfortabiltiy. overall a solid film.

• Dan S

  
  A well-plotted, expertly acted film concerning the life and mysterious death of 1950's TV actor George Reeves ("Superman"). It's nothing groundbreaking or anything that hasn't been done already, but this is a solid entry into the crime/drama field that… More
  A well-plotted, expertly acted film concerning the life and mysterious death of 1950's TV actor George Reeves ("Superman"). It's nothing groundbreaking or anything that hasn't been done already, but this is a solid entry into the crime/drama field that succeeds in large part due to great acting from its stars. Affleck, who didn't get a solid acting job for nearly three years after this film, is perfect for the role of an alcoholic, depressed man who couldn't get out of the shadow of "The Man of Steel". What I liked most about the movie is that it doesn't get pretentious, which was my main fear. It does bog down at times, and there are some problems I had with how the overall story was told (why didn't Eddie Mannix, who, is so well-connected with the mob apparently, have ANYONE watching his wife during her long-time affair with Reeves?!), but, this is an overall impressive drama.

• Anthony L

  
  Great film with some great performances. I really enjoyed it but the one thing that annoyed me, and this is more of a pet hate, was the fact that the whole film was very accurate in depicting exactly what happened, yet the main character is fictitious! It actually works quite well but… More
  Great film with some great performances. I really enjoyed it but the one thing that annoyed me, and this is more of a pet hate, was the fact that the whole film was very accurate in depicting exactly what happened, yet the main character is fictitious! It actually works quite well but it still gets on my nerves. Still, Brody, Hoskins, Lane and Affleck (yes, Affleck) are very good! I can't believe that was a fake nose!

• Ping C

  
  This movie is so close to being good but the last 3rd of the movie ends up taking the movie into a plot tangent that never gets back on track and makes everything feel strangely unresolved. I can't recommend the movie, but I Adrien Brody, as per usual, turns in a really decent… More
  This movie is so close to being good but the last 3rd of the movie ends up taking the movie into a plot tangent that never gets back on track and makes everything feel strangely unresolved. I can't recommend the movie, but I Adrien Brody, as per usual, turns in a really decent performance.

• Chris G

  
  When I was four or five years old I watched George Reeves as Superman every morning before school. You have to remember that this was almost 25 years after he first donned the cape and tights. I didn't know about the suicide, I just assumed that he was Christopher Reeve's… More
  When I was four or five years old I watched George Reeves as Superman every morning before school. You have to remember that this was almost 25 years after he first donned the cape and tights. I didn't know about the suicide, I just assumed that he was Christopher Reeve's dad (I was 5 remember?) Hollywoodland isn't just a look at George Reeves (Ben Affleck) suicide. It's also a look at trying to make it in show business in the 1950's. Actors tried to sneak into pictures in Variety and studio bosses pulled the strings on what the public believed that their stars identities were. Hollywoodland follows a private detective (Adrian Brody) who ends up in the employ of George Reeves' mother who believes that her son has been murdered. Intercut with flashbacks Brody follows that tale of the last few years of Reeves' life that involve the wife of a studio boss (Diane Lane), his fiance (Robin Tunney), and a vice president for MGM (Bob Hoskins). The film is about the downward spiral of George Reeves, but it doesn't answer the question of was it murder or suicide. It just sums up the evidence and lets you decide. What I found interesting is that the cinematography tends to mimic the style of the 1950's- dull, yet colorful as if it was a bridge between black and white and color. Hollywoodland is a great period/whodunnit film that doesn't really suffer from any major problems. A great cast and crew make this a dine film that shows us what Superman had hiding underneath that spitcurl.

• Pierluigi P

  
  The atmosphere is right; Adrien Brody as the detective and Ben Affleck as TV's 'superman' George Reeves, are great in their roles; but the interest for its convoluted and disjointed plot decreases every minute.

• Luke B

  
  The fascinating account of the supposed suicide of Superman actor George Reeves. The film is essentially two films, one a biopic of struggling actor George Reeves hitting the big time and at the same time the investigation into his suicide which some believe was murder. It's a… More
  The fascinating account of the supposed suicide of Superman actor George Reeves. The film is essentially two films, one a biopic of struggling actor George Reeves hitting the big time and at the same time the investigation into his suicide which some believe was murder. It's a shame that the film wasn't handled as two complimentary pieces. Though the jumping back and forth is fine and adds a new dimension to the biopic and noir genres it also means each one isn't explored to its full potential. If handled separately we could have had two fantastic films rather than just a very good one. All the performances are spot on, especially Affleck who comes off as a charming Reeves and really gets in deep with his off screen emotional aspects. We get a decent looks at lucky/unlucky men with each of them offered the chance of a lifetime only to see everything crumble down around them. Deliberately ambiguous the film shows the effect one man can have on people and also how the myths outlive the men. People like to think of their idols as happy and powerful figures, yet they are just as vulnerable as anybody else. It certainly has an extra impact here with Reeves playing The Man of Steel. One particularly powerful scene in has a young boy aim a real loaded gun at Reeves believing the bullet will simply bounce off. Affleck plays it beautifully and was robbed of an Oscar.

• Al S

  
  A uniquely compelling masterwork. A riveting and sensational thriller.A gripping and dazzeling mystery. Stylish, sharp, intriguing and memerizing film noir. A taunt, glamourus, stunning, intelligent and hard-boiled movie. A dective story of the finest kind. A well written, well… More
  A uniquely compelling masterwork. A riveting and sensational thriller.A gripping and dazzeling mystery. Stylish, sharp, intriguing and memerizing film noir. A taunt, glamourus, stunning, intelligent and hard-boiled movie. A dective story of the finest kind. A well written, well directed and superbly performed film. Every performance is remarkable. Adrian Brody is brilliant, showing his undeniable star power. Just like in The Pianist, King Kong and Summer of Sam, Brody never fails to impress. Diane Lane is teriffic, shes sexy, charasmatic and dangerous. Bob Hoskins is a powerhouse. Ben Afflack has never been better, he gives an engaging, compelling and deeply moving performance. It's his best and most electrifying role in years.

• Alice S

  
  I dig how there's equal weight placed on the detective story as well as the <i>detective's</i> story. Adrien Brody is brilliant and has the most interesting face.

• Kalel J

  
  Well made but familiar, Hollywoodland trundles the same filmic formula seen countless times already. From a production point of view - there isn't too much to fault, but the major problem comes through its lack of taking risks. Had the film stepped outside of its boundaries then… More
  Well made but familiar, Hollywoodland trundles the same filmic formula seen countless times already. From a production point of view - there isn't too much to fault, but the major problem comes through its lack of taking risks. Had the film stepped outside of its boundaries then it could have rocked the audience harder, but in its finalised state it acts as a mere reflection. We see, watch, and are entertained, but ultimately - we don't care for these characters.

• Michael G

  
  Ben Affleck is surprisingly great in his funny and sadly broken down portrayal as George Reeves. Hollywoodland has a James Ellroy feel as Adrien Brody plays a bottomfeeding private eye in 50s LA. The flashbacks with Reeves are great but Brody's domestic subplot was pretty weak… More
  Ben Affleck is surprisingly great in his funny and sadly broken down portrayal as George Reeves. Hollywoodland has a James Ellroy feel as Adrien Brody plays a bottomfeeding private eye in 50s LA. The flashbacks with Reeves are great but Brody's domestic subplot was pretty weak and Diane Lane was fantastic. It's not quite LA Confidential but it beats the hell out of The Black Dahlia.

• Curtis L

  
  So effing boring. We sit there waiting for resolution, forced to look at Ben Affleck and his love life, and in the end all we learn is that Hollywood is evil and no one figures out the killer. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHH.

• Tim S

  
  It would have been five stars if Ben Affleck would have really shot himself at the end.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings