The Black Dahlia

Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on September 19, 2006

Release Date: September 15, 2006

Well if I had to use just one word to sum this movie up, its a toss up between “underwhelming” and “disappointing.” The Black Dahlia is a detective movie that takes place around the infamous Hollywood slaying of Elizabeth Short. I say “takes place around” instead of “about” because honestly the killing really has very little to do with it.

Yeah, the muder happens. Yeah, it gets solved through some of the most inept detective work ever at the end, but really the focus is on our lead detective Bucky, played by Josh Hartnett. With what we learn of the actual murder through his “investigation” this movie could be about anything. He could be looking up a delicious recipe for baklava for all we know.

Now, the film looks amazing. The cinematography is right on and I liked it a lot. The camera direction was also good. It had a great noir feel to it. Some of the lighting issues bothered me as they were sort of bashing you over the head in their bluntess. Halos around peoples heads, I mean, come on.

The acting was fairly crap. Hartnett is fine except when on screen with Scarlett Johansson and there is absolutely no chemistry between them during the dramatic scenes. And the “distractingly sexy and hot love scene?” Please, I’ve walked in on my parents doing worse. Aaron Eckhart was good, although his character is given little to do and throw-away motivations. Hillary Swank. What was she doing here? She didn’t fit the role and she mailed it in. That’s what it felt like. And the drunken German mother? Please. I didn’t show up for slapstick comedy.

My big problem was that for a detective movie, there wasn’t any detecting. Bucky blindly stumbles onto the identity of the murder. He was blind to most of it the whole time. Aaron Eckhart’s character actually deduced the killer, but we aren’t shown how or why. It’s a throw away, although there is evidence that he actually did some detective work. Also, there isn’t much to do with the actual murder. They should have called it “Bucky” because he’s the only character we learn about at all. Its a shame. The movie had a lot of good ideas and promise and was shot beautifully.

If I have to point a finger of blame, it goes at the weak script and some poor choices by De Palma. Getting right to the point, don’t bother with it unless you’re a huge noir fan, then catch it in theaters because odds are you won’t get many more noirs. If you’re interested in it, wait til the DVD. As much as I bad mouth it, its not that its a “bad movie” its just that its not good. It didn’t really offend me with its badness, but rather with its blandness.

Oh, and the plot is difficult, muddled, and all thrust into your face in the last few minutes. Take a note pad.

Final Grade: C-

The Upside: The film looks absolutely brilliant. It’s a nice classic throw back 1949.

The Downside: The film isn’t very engaging, doesn’t focus on the murder, and shoves a lot of confusing stuff in your mouth at the last possible second. Plus, most people figure out, for the most part, who is responsible for the killings about half-way in.

On The Side: The title Black Dahlia comes from a comparison to the stunning lead actress, Veronia Lake, in the film The Blue Dahlia, which came out the same year of the murder. Elizabeth Short was described as being stunningly beautiful, but wearing black.

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