Hollywoodland (Widescreen Edition) | 
| Director: Allen Coulter
Actors: Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, Bob Hoskins, Kevin Hare
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $12.98
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Rating:  143 reviews
Sales Rank: 12166
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 127 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MCAD62028846D
UPC: 025192884627
EAN: 0025192884627
ASIN: B000KWZ7JC
Theatrical Release Date: September 8, 2006
Release Date: February 6, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Playing Superman on TV brought aspiring film actor George Reeves stardom, but it also held him back as far as more serious acting roles went. When a 45-year-old Reeves was found dead in his home in 1959, his death was ruled a suicide, and attributed to this B-level frustration. The result of a single bullet wound, Reeves's death caused controversy in and around Hollywood, where popular theories related his death to either his starlet fianc, Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney), or his famously ongoing and unique relationship with Toni Mannix (a fabulous Diane Lane), the wife of mob-connected MGM head Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). HOLLYWOODLAND explores Reeves's life and tragic end from the perspective of Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), a private investigator hired by Reeves's mother shortly after his death. Cutting back and forth between scenes of Reevess life and Simo's detective work, the film draws parallels between two men kept from appreciating the present by dreams of future grandeur. Ben Affleck returns to form as Reeves, a man whose hindering celebrity status may have reminded the actor of his own: despite breaking onto the scene with an Academy Award for writing GOOD WILL HUNTING in 1997, Affleck's career was at one point overshadowed by a romance as familiar to the public as Superman's cape. With close attention to detail, first-time director Allen Coulter creates two distinct worlds specific to their time, Simo's noir-ish and seedy L.A. forming a bleak contrast to the glamorous, formal Tinseltown Reeves so longed to be embraced by. An accomplished act for a first time director, HOLLYWOODLAND offers viewers a believable look into Hollywood's most glamorous bygone era. Strong performances and stylish filmmaking help fuel a mystery without a solution.
Amazon.com
The fact-based mystery of Hollywoodland takes place in 1959, when the death of Adventures of Superman TV star George Reeves cast a pall over the waning days of golden-age Hollywood. As written by Paul Bernbaum, this intriguing whodunit effectively evokes the tainted atmosphere that surrounded Reeves' death (officially ruled a suicide but never conclusively solved), and speculates on circumstances to suggest that Reeves may have been murdered. In combining the melancholy course of Reeves' career with the investigation of a down-and-out private detective into the possible causes of Reeves' death, the film evolves into an engrossing study of parallels between lives on either side of the Hollywood dream. Building upon a distinguished career in TV including episodes of HBO's The Sopranos, Rome and Six Feet Under, director Allen Coulter finds a satisfying balance between the tragic overtones of the Reeves case and the time-honored elements of the gumshoe genre, with Adrien Brody doing fine work as private eye Louis Simo, a fictional composite character who is our conduit to the desperate yearnings of Reeves' final months. In a critically acclaimed performance, Ben Affleck plays Reeves in moody flashbacks, caught between Superman stardom and financial dependence on his lover Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), the somewhat predatory wife of Hollywood "fixer" and MGM honcho Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins), whose mob connections suggest foul play as Simo's investigation progresses. Reeves' subsequent lover (played by Robin Tunney) may also be culpable, and as Simo's own personal life unravels, his empathy for Reeves takes on added significance. In presenting its mystery as a set of plausible scenarios, Hollywoodland holds interest as a mystery that's refreshingly compassionate toward the fate of its characters. Warts and all, they're likable dreamers in a town where dreams don't always come true. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 138 more reviews...
 Lacks focus, but there's still some pleasure here April 5, 2009
Steven Reynolds (Sydney, Australia)
In 1959, actor George Reeves, who had a small role in "Gone With The Wind" but was mainly famous for playing TV's Superman, was found dead, an apparent suicide. In this fictionalized retelling, low-rent private eye Louis Simo (Adrien Brody), convinces the actor's mother to launch a press-driven investigation into her son's death. Among the suspects are Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), Reeves' mistress and the wife of the powerful Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins), a senior executive at MGM, and Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) a possibly gold-digging fiancee... Director Allen Coulter has a good deal of fun exploring alternate theories of Reeves' death and at the same time delving into some unsavoury aspects of Old Hollywood. But the film's focus seems misplaced. The story of Reeves' rise and fall is a potentially moving one. Reeves was a talented, good-looking actor whose success as Superman was undercut by a feeling of ridiculousness, on top of the fact that he was supported by an older mistress, the wife of a top MGM executive. At age 45, there was every possibility he was washed up for good. Real poignancy might have been wrung from his predicament had the story been allowed to dwell there. What gets in the way is first-time scripter Paul Bernbaum's framing story involving Simo's investigation. It's far less intriguing than the melancholy tale of a limited actor reaching the end of the line during a transitional period in Hollywood. It doesn't help that Brody's Simo is a distinctly unlikeable protagonist and his investigation isn't really used to drive the narrative. The film's strengths lie in the unstated assumptions and emotional undercurrents developed among Reeves, Toni and, to a lesser extent, Eddie Mannix, along with its subtle portrait of a Hollywood still dominated by big studio grayhairs but in the midst of a major overhaul to youth and TV. It's great to see depictions of real-life characters such as Eddie Mannix and Joe Spano, MGM's powerful head publicist. They lend conviction and spark to an otherwise plodding film. Affleck won the Best Actor award at Venice for his portrayal of Reeves. It's good to see him doing something different, but it's hardly great work.
Such Wasted Promise December 19, 2008
L. Frijole (Portland, Or)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Hollywoodland is a movie with such great promise. It has a great premise, fantastic actors, and a connection to my childhood memories of watching reruns of Superman.
Unfortunately all of that promise is squandered by a mediocre (at best) script. While Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, and Bob Hoskins create some fantastic characters, and Ben Affleck doesn't totally stink up the joint, they are stuck with boring lines.
George (Ben Affleck) comes off as a very likeable, yet tragic figure. While he rocketed to success as Superman, that success kept him from doing any other acting. He was forever typecast as The Man of Steel. A really solid and entertaining biography could have been made about the rise and fall of this American icon.
While the movie centers around the real-life death of George Reeves, the man who played Superman in the 1950's tv show, the movie lacks any real tension or necessity. It is really more of an exercise in exploring the three main suspects in his death (the mistress, the fiancee, and himself).
Adrian Brody plays the role of Louis Simo, a down on his luck private investigator. Simo is investigating the apparent suicide of George Reeves. The deeper he digs, the more he realizes that "the big blue boy scout" didn't lead such a clean life. Again, this would have made for a very entertaining movie on its own.
Unfortunately, the script cannot handle the mashing together of two movies and the actors spend the entire movie tripping all over each other. That is too bad. I had such high hopes for the movie.
Recommended for the great actors. Not recommended for the actual movie.
 "Not Faster Than a Speeding Bullet" December 16, 2008
Phoebe Stogstill (by the shores of Gitchee Goomie)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is one time "Superman" was not "faster than a speeding bullet." As a kid who was parked in front of the TV every day with my older brother watching each episode of "Superman" over and over again, I was crushed later when I learned that George Reeves committed suicide. This broke the bubble of fantasy for the character and the actor and broke the hearts of many children like me. When I later read the book that described the probable real scenario of his death, "death by one woman too many, and the wrong women," it was easier to accept. Tragic and pitiful it was, for an actor of much promise that I had also viewed in Metrocolor as the Tarleton twins in "Gone With The Wind." I, of course, had to view this movie, "Hollywoodland" to try to come to some kind of closure for George Reeves. I was not disappointed by the movie as it captured the nostalgic atmosphere of Hollywood at the time and Adrien Brody as PI Louis Simo is the standout in this production. A sexy Diane Lane is beneficial in helping us understand George's complicated and wierd love life. Ben Affleck, is quite good and believable as George.
 Who Killed Superman? October 10, 2008
Michael B. Druxman (Austin, TX)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Who killed Superman?
The LAPD, back in 1957, claimed that actor George Reeves, who played the superhero on television for many years, committed suicide, but other people have speculated that it was either his fiance', or even a professional "hit," ordered by MGM executive Eddie Mannix, whose wife, Toni, had had a long-term affair with Reeves.
This handsomely-filmed crime thriller, which does an excellent job of recreating Hollywood of that golden era, reexamines the case from the point-of-view of a sleazy, fictional detective, played by Adrien Brody. His life seems to parallel that of Reeves', as he is hired by the dead actor's mother (Lois Smith) to investigate the case.
During his travels, Brody uncovers the relationship between second-rate actor Reeves (Ben Affleck in a performance that deserved an Oscar nomination), and the much older Toni Mannix (Diane Lane). He also encounters the power of the studios and their ability to arrange a cover-up of what really happened to Reeves.
Bob Hoskins as Eddie Mannix, Robin Tunney as Reeves' fiance' and Joe Spano as MGM publicity head Howard Strickling are part of a fine cast that brings this compelling true story to life.
DVD extras include deleted scenes, audio commentary by director Allen Coulter and three above-average "Behind the Scenes" featurettes, which discuss old Hollywood and the actual Reeves case.
Michael B. Druxman
 Mildly entertaining... August 24, 2008
nodice (Manchester, Ga United States)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
but in the end, it sort of falls flat. The main reason is because the film refuses to take a position. It doesn't have to be the truth, but just this detective's point of view or position. Instead, in the end, the message is: we don't what happened. Geez, I sat through all that to be back where I started? And as much as I like Brody, his character in this film is dull as dishwater. I care nothing about him or his issues. Why should I? This film shouldn't even be about him. Affleck, compare to his usual flare, did a decent job, but it's still not anything to really write home about. I thought Diane Lane was the most impressive by far. This film will keep your attention if you have nothing else to do, but there are other ways to pass the time.
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