Brian De Palma directs Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson and Aaron Eckhart in this crime thriller about two detective caught in a psycho sexual conspiracy tangentially related to the infamous true crime Hollywood murder.

I project I have revisited a few time as I think there should be a great film here. I just can’t believe how vapid and uninvolving it all is. De Palma races through subplot, digressions and major set pieces as if it were all one take filler. The stairwell sequence is the only moment with any true Brian magic. The movie rarely sparks and James “The Demon Dog” Ellroy bramble bush myth-tory storytelling mode is sapped of nearly all impact. It does look the part but ultimately this flat, distant, rushed adaptation gives the impression of lost actors, dressing up, marooned in a mystery that doesn’t really matter. How could it have gone so wrong? Should it have been David Fincher’s proposed six hour miniseries? Yes. A squandered opportunity.

5

Perfect Double Bill: Hollywoodland (2006)

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