The Black Dahlia (www.the-usher.com)

"It's becoming an obsession"

In 1946, officer Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert (Hartnett) and Sgt. Leland "Lee" Blanchard (Eckhart) were the picture boys of the Los Angeles Police Department. Labelled 'Fire' and 'Ice', the hard-hitting cops were as tough on the streets as they were in the boxing ring. When the mutilated body of wanabe actress Elizabeth Short (Kirshner) is uncovered by police, both Bucky and Lee become obsessed with finding her killer but as they investigate they realise that there is much more to here death than just a simple murder.

The last adaptation of a period James Ellroy novel produced the classic 'L.A. Confidential' but can 'The Black Dahlia' be just as good?

With an A-list cast and a director that excels in period movies, the signs were extremely promising for 'The Black Dahlia' but as you watch the movie you realise that this is going to be in the same league as 'L.A. Confidential' or 'The Untouchables'. Thought by many as an unfilmable novel, 'The Black Dahlia' slowly builds the tension over its slightly long two-hour duration until its very confusing finale. Because the film as much to tie up before the end, the big reveals and revelations are thrown at you and in some cases are very disappointing.

Director Brian De Palma career as of late has been a very mixed bag. For every 'Scarface', 'The Untouchables', 'Carlito's Way' or 'Mission Impossible' you have a 'Mission to Mars', 'Raising Cain' or 'Snake Eyes' that really disappoint. There is no denying that De Palma is one of the most gifted visual film directors working in Hollywood today and the movie is just as visually stunning as any of his previous cinematic releases. As he did with 'The Untouchables', De Palma recreates the era with his usual attention to detail to produce another visually stunning example of how to photograph a movie.

De Palma has gathered together a first rate cast to bring the story of Los Angeles most notorious murder to the silver screen. Josh Hartnett has been Hollywood's next big thing for many years now but his career has been a bit of a mixed bag. As officer Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert he creates another character that shows his talent and range as an actor, who is more than just a pretty face. The talented Aaron Eckhart continues to impress with another fine performance as Sgt. Leland "Lee" Blanchard, a man trouble by his past and driven by obsession. The stunningly beautiful Scarlett Johansson continues her quest to work with all of Hollywood's great directors as Blanchard's wife Kay Lake. Hilary Swank shows again why she is a double Oscar winner as the femme fatale Madeleine Linscott. Mia Kirshner is haunting as victim Elizabeth Short, who is only seen in the audition films she has made.

'The Black Dahlia' suffers from a meandering, pot boiler of a plot that simmers away for too long before the revelations and big reveals kick in. It is the performances of the cast and authentic look of the film that makes the adaptation of the James Ellroy novel, which is based on the real case of Elizabeth Short's murder, more watchable than it could have been. It is the confusing finale that lets it down but for those clambering for some 1940 noir mystery, you can easily get lost in the world of 'The Black Dahlia'.

'Reality And Fiction - The Story Of The Black Dahlia': a conversation with novelist James Ellroy
'The Case File': a behind-the-scenes look at the filmmakers, actors and crew that brought this infamous mystery to the screen
'The De Palma Touch': a look at how acclaimed director Brian De Palma brought his unique and shocking visual style to the film

L.A. Confidential

The Untouchables

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2006