Private eye Louis Simo (Adrien Brody, pictured) suspects foul play behind the suicide of actor George Reeves (Ben Affleck), the star of 1950s TV series Superman. "Since when do suicides miss twice, lay down on a rug and start over?" he asks LAPD detectives.
Reeves dated Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), a sexy ex-showgirl married to MGM studio thug Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). Was Toni jealous of George's new girl Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney)? Did the actor shoot himself in disgust at his typecast spandex career? Or did Eddie order the hit?
Allen Coulter might be a first-time director, but he's no stranger to where the bodies are buried in mystery thrillers. This is, after all, the man who's directed Tony Soprano in a dozen episodes of the famous Mob series. But Coulter isn't the surprise package of this stylish noir. Affleck, after years of so-so romcoms and so-so choices off-screen, is first-rate as the uncertain and unfulfilled Reeves. Whether or not Affleck benefits from Reeves's similarity to his own screen record, it's a mature performance and one of the best of his career.
Hollywoodland is a Film programme that first aired in 2006 and has been classified a 15 certificate.
