First of all, let me tell you that I'm a big fan of De Palma and also a huge admirer of Ellroy's works. So I was expecting a lot (maybe too much I guess, but I think it's a bit normal too... I mean I always expect a lot from De Palma and Ellroy) from a long time... at least since the project of the adaptation was revealed. I was a bit scared by the cast -especially Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart- but, hey, I'm not De Palma, he knows better than me what he has to do and who he has to chose.
I read again the book last month (and also almost every Ellroy's novels since the last four months) to be in the perfect mood to watch the movie.
So here's what I think about the movie:
Not good at all. Almost crap. Yeah I know it's easy to say for somebody who read the book before seeing the adaptation that the book is much better. I know a movie and a novel are two different types of works and can't be judged in the same way. But in this case...
Even without comparing the movie to the book (which is indeed a huge masterpiece), the De Palma work is really disappointing: the screenplay is ridicule, the plot is simplistic -especially the end- and almost grotesque. The actors are over-acting in a parody of the big Hollywood-era movies... The characters have no charism (especially Mr Fire and Mr Ice and the Linscott family). And the omnipresent music is unbearable. The directing is not bad but... he can do so much better.
Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confindential was much more better than this one, no doubt about it.
Not a good De Palma at all. The mistery is: I still can't understand why Ellroy gave his credit to that unworthy adaptation. Especially when you know how the man can be tough...
I watched the first half hour when I was at work the other day, crap indeed Will watch the rest next time I'm in, but I'm still going to go with my 'crap' rating the noo
No I work in KFC lol, I'm still at school, so funds my needs at the moment. There is a notorious DVD pirate that works there also, so we have copies of several new films for watchng on your breaks
The Black Dahlia
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 02:02:11
