Hollywoodland
A Film Review By Clyde Ayles
On June 17, 1959, America found out that Superman was not immortal. He was dead.
George Reeves, who played the man of steel, was reported to have shot himself in
the head. But many people, including his mother, believed that he was killed
by a hit man hired by a big shot studio boss who knew Reeves was having an
affair with his wife. "Hollywoodland" more or
less tackles this issue. BEN AFFLECK plays George Reeves and does a great job.
There are times when he looks and sounds like him. If you don't know, Reeves
portrayed Superman in a series of low budget t.v. shows that ran from 1952 to
1957. Reeves career never really took off. After the Superman series ended, he
had trouble finding other roles.
BOB
HOSKINS is the studio boss whose wife (DIANE LANE) is having it hot and heavy
with the fallen actor. She pays his way in everything, even buying him a
house. Later George meets a new lady named Lenore Lemmon and leaves his love.
This causes some very bad vibes with the lady and her studio boss husband
ADRIEN BRODY plays Louis Simo, a private eye who probes into the story, but
probes too deep for some people. He runs into some violent backlash and closed
doors. Even Reeves mother turns against him after being payed off by a big
studio, I was never really a big fan of Affleck, but he turns in a fine
performance here.
If you had ever watched the Superman t.v. show, you will
see a George Reeves that you never knew. ALLEN COULTER, who directs his first
motion picture here, after directing t.v. shows "The Sopranos" and "Sex And The
City" gives us a good old fasioned suspense film. SEE YA AT THE MOVIES
CLYDE © 2006
Clyde Ayles
The
King's Room