Hollywoodland

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

For those whose vision of Superman is somewhere between Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh, this handsomely crafted story of fleeting fame and fortune in the Hollywood of the late Hollywoodland is a unique film that gets you in its grip and takes you on the inside for an original and engrossing look at the tragic life and death of TV’s first Superman, actor George Reeves (Ben Affleck). On June 16, 1959, Reeves (no relation to Christopher) whose career was defined for his TV portrayal of the Man Of Steel, was found dead in his home, an apparent suicide. His mother suspects foul play, hires a two-bit private dick (Adrien Brody) to investigate the death, leading to a ‘who-might-have-done-it’ potboiler that is directed in the grand tradition of great mystery movies. Affleck leaves the stink of Gigli in the dust with his best role in a while, and all three stars (including Diane Lane as the wife of a shady studio exec) turn in superb performances.

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