BigApplePi I read a few reviews but didn't see much if anything about how the life of the detective parallels that of the actor in question. I will skip rating the actors and the story telling because they have already been covered.What interests me is the mystery of George Reeves death is as much an interest of the detective as it is for us ... perhaps more so. The detective, Simo, must know his profession and life is a low level version of Reeves. He wants to know what happened because it will tell him how his own life should be carried out.Take a look at the parallel happenings ... the uncertain loves, the mob threats and finally the unavoidable depression of a failed vocation. I will have to see this film again to see how this interpretation plays out.

SnoopyStyle It's 1959 and George Reeves (Ben Affleck) best known as TV Superman is found shot dead in a house full of people. The police rules it a suicide. Questionable private investigator Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) is hired by Helen Bessolo to investigate the death of her son Reeves. As he digs into the case, the show flashes back to Reeves' time in Hollywood starting as a nobody trying to get his foot in the door. He has an affair with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane) who he doesn't know at first that she is actually the wife of a MGM studio head Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins).The movie is a little slow and a little long relishing in the noirish hard-boiled style. Allen Coulter is a TV director and that may be why the movie moves more slowly. It doesn't quite have the urgency. Adrien Brody's slow brooding mannerisms only accentuate the pacing. I like the era and the style. I could do with a quicker pace. Ben Affleck fits this character better than his other nice guy roles. He's a little dark and a little complicated. It signals a change in Affleck's career path for the better. The style is there but the pacing is lacking.

romanorum1 Years ago the huge Hollywood sign used to read Hollywoodland; the name seems to connote an expose, the city's seamy underbelly. Whereas a film like "LA Confidential" focused on the police, this one centers on a Hollywood actor. George Reeves was a secondary performer whose big break was television's "Adventures of Superman" (1952-1958), a very popular series (filming actually began in 1951). Reeves may not have been happy with the starring role, but he did become famous. Not only did the kids watch the half-hour program that featured the mythical comic book super-hero, but also their parents tuned in. After the series run, in June 1959 the despondent 45 year-old actor was dead upstairs in his house with a bullet in his head, apparently a suicide. Three people, including the actor's fiancé, were downstairs at the time of death. Thousands of fans were shocked by the demise of "Superman," the Man of Steel.According to the film, the local police and studio moguls want the case closed as a suicide. But there are strange circumstances behind the situation, like the two bullet holes in the bedroom floor that the LAPD seemed to discount. And why did the folks on the first floor take 45 minutes to call the police? Now Reeves was known to have had a former affair with Toni Mannix, MGM studio executive Ed Mannix's wife. And did Reeves get along well with his girlfriend? So the screenplay brings up three possibilities of Reeves' demise: (1) a suicide, (2) an accidental killing while struggling with fiancé Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney), and (3) a contract hit by mogul Mannix (Bob Hoskins). To solve the case, (fictional) detective Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) is hired (by Reeves mother), mostly by luck through his previous employer, a detective agency. Simo is the one whose investigation opens up the window to Reeves' life. In fact, the movie delves into parallel stories between the lives of the two men. We see how the self-doubting actor got the role of "Superman," his affair with Toni Mannix (who helped his career and bought him a house), and his personal struggles to be recognized as a talent. Meanwhile Simo's life is in turmoil. He likes to drink and has been mostly unsuccessful in his working career. He has alienated his son, who has a stepfather. Like many children, the son, Evan (Zack Mills), idolized "Superman," and is crushed by the demise of Reeves. Will the jaunt become Simo's personal redemption to salvage a failed life?Ben Afleck does not really look like George Reeves, although he does well with the late actor's mannerisms and his charm. Some critics felt that since Ben Afleck played the role of a second rate actor, his performance was good enough. But Afleck fans will like anything he does. Brody handles his task OK, but he comes across as cocky and not especially likable. Do we really need to know about his domestic situation? There is a bit too much focus on the life of the fictional egotistical detective (and his uncooperative wife), and not enough on Reeves (although we do pick up much information). And when the movie ends, we ask, "Well, what did he really do?" In short, Simo's anxious life simply does not add to the story. Diane Lane was good as Reeves estranged lover; watch her reaction when Reeves dumps her. Bob Hoskins as Ed Mannix is quite chilling, Acting much like a mob boss, he has the look of a man whom no one had better cross. Also introduced is the despicable mother, Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith), who lied to her son George about his biological father and other aspects of his upbringing. This feature is an honest examination of the life and times of George Reeves (1940s-1950s). Production values are quite high, and the movie evokes the 1950-period quite well. How about those old-style large-finned cars? The reproductions of the old-time backstage creations are interesting, and it becomes obvious just how low budget the series really was. But as a murder-mystery the story is just OK, and its ending is certainly anti-climatic.

seymourblack-1 The mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the actor who was known to millions of TV viewers for his starring role in "Adventures Of Superman" (1952-1958) gave rise to widespread speculation about whether his death was a case of suicide or murder. "Hollywoodland" tells the semi-fictitious story of an investigation into the case by a private detective who, just like television's Superman, finds that his ambitions lead him into dark territory.Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) is the private investigator whose personal life is in turmoil and whose professional activities don't earn him enough to pay the bills. He becomes aware of the death of George Reeves (Ben Affleck) when he discovers how upset his son is about what happened to his TV hero and later becomes more intrigued when he learns, from a detective that he used to work with, that there are certain facts about the case that the authorities want to keep under wraps.Simo sees an opportunity to win some valuable publicity and soon gets himself hired by Reeves' mother Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith) who doesn't believe for a minute that her son would've committed suicide. Simo's investigation reveals a number of unexplained pieces of evidence and it isn't too long before a few different theories emerge about how Reeves actually died.Reeves was an actor whose career had started with a small part in "Gone With The Wind" but subsequently failed to develop in the way he'd hoped it would. He'd become involved with an older woman called Toni Mannix (Diane Lane) who bought him a house, a car and good clothes but ominously turned out to be the wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). Reeves' initial anxiety about this was relieved however, when he learnt that Eddie and Toni had an open relationship and Eddie also had a Japanese mistress.The opportunity to play Superman was a turning point for Reeves because it made him famous and provided him with a modest income. Unfortunately though, he didn't find the role satisfying and had aspirations to play more demanding parts which could earn him recognition as a serious actor. Very few roles of the type he wanted came along and when they did, audience reaction was negative because being so well known as Superman meant that no-one could take him seriously in any other role. Reeves became bitter, dumped Toni and later became involved with a young starlet called Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) who was present at his Hollywood home on the night of his death."Hollywoodland" is a movie in which the Los Angeles of the 1950s is beautifully and convincingly recreated and its story about the unexplained inconsistencies surrounding the death of George Reeves is genuinely intriguing.Ben Affleck is marvellous as he brings to life the charm and sadness of his character and subtly shows how humiliated he felt at certain points in his career and Diane Lane is terrific as the wealthy but vulnerable Toni who was left devastated and angry when her affair with Reeves ended. Bob Hoskins and Adrien Brody both make a strong impression but overall the quality of the acting in this film really is exceptionally good.