The Black Dahlia

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The Black Dahlia ★★ 2006 (R)

Adaptation of James Ellroy's novel about the lurid unsolved murder features director De Palma's feverish eye for noir. Greatlooking, over-stuffed, and ultimately unsatisfying production has Hollywood wannabe Elizabeth Short's (Kirshner) mutilated body discovered in a vacant lot in LA in 1947. Detective Lee Blanchard (Eckhart) becomes obsessed with the case—to the detriment of his life with blonde babe lover, Kay Lake (Johansson). Meanwhile, Lee's callow partner Buck (Hartnett) is investigating wealthy brunette Madeleine's (Swank) involvement with Short, which leads him to her lunatic clan. Fedoras, red lipstick, and cigarette smoke abound, but the glam hides plenty of dirt and corruption. 121m/C DVD . US Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Mike Starr, Fiona Shaw, John Kavanagh, Rachel Miner, Mia Kirshner, Troy Evans, Gregg Henry, Rose McGowan, Jemima Rooper, William Finley, Kevin Dunn, Ian McNeice, Pepe Serna, Patrick Fischler; D: Brian De Palma; W: Josh Friedman; C: Vilmos Zsigmond; M: Mark Isham.