“The Black Dahlia” (Universal Pictures)
Great Look But Impossible To Understand
“The Black Dahlia” is the story of one of the most famous unsolved murders in America. Though it took place in the 1940’s the legend of this crime still exists today. The film “The Black Dahlia” is based on James Ellroy’s novel about the atrocious crime and follows his theories as to what happened and why.
The plot of the movie focuses on two cops in LA in the 40’s. Bucky Bleichert (Josh Hartnett) and Lee Blanchard (Aaron Echkhart) are not only cops, they are also amateur boxers. To gain publicity and funds for the LA Police Department they stage a boxing match. It is such a success the two men are promoted to the rank of detective. One of the first cases they catch is that of “The Black Dahlia.”
“The Black Dahlia” is the name the press gives to Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirshner) an aspiring actress who copied the style of Veronica Lake in the film “The Blue Dahlia” but made her clothes black instead. She never gained much fame while living but her death attracted attention due to the fact it was so brutal.
Lee’s girlfriend is Kay Lake (Scarlett Johansson), a blonde with a past. She, Lee and Bucky become a trio of friends but there is an undercurrent of passion that develops between Bucky and Kay. Shades of “Pearl Harbor,” Josh is snaking on his friend again.
Bucky also becomes involved with Madeleine Linscott (Hilary Swank), a sultry socialite who looks like the dead “Dahlia.” Madeleine’s family is dysfunctional and her mother (Fiona Shaw) appears to be bordering on a complete breakdown.
All of this setting up of the plot takes too much time and most of it is murky and unclear. The look and feel of the forties is great and the acting overall is good. It is only Fiona Shaw who seems to go overboard in her madness and makes her big breakdown scene funny rather than dramatic. Hilary Swank’s sensuous socialite is a change from her recent roles but she manages to smolder quite nicely.
The movie is rated R for profanity, violence and nudity.
If you are hoping for another “L A Confidential” (also written by James Ellroy), you don’t get it in this film. The long drawn out plot, full of weaving scenarios and false starts, is just too complex to be understood completely or enjoyed as much as it could be. The film holds your interest, and the characters are engrossing too, but that plot just breaks down into a solved mystery that remains a mystery.
I scored “The Black Dahlia” a noir 6 out of 10.
