This is a rare work of art in which the goddesses Chaos and Lethargy compete, listlessly, for your attention. Somewhere in here is a decent film noir mystery, but it's suffocated by atmospherics and confused by incoherence. It makes you wonder if Brian DePalma could have been quaffing codeine toking torpedoes, and lapping down 'ludes through the whole process.
The performances range from overwrought to under-baked with very little in between. Hillary Swank does a dirty Kate Hepburn, badly. Fiona Shaw channels Bette Davis, grotesquely. Scarlett Johannson mimes Lana Turner, stiffly. And, in one of the very few bright spots, Josh Hartnett bares his bum, too briefly.
I watched this thing all the way through because I was ill and I was too uninvolved to change the channel. When it was over, I couldn't decide which I needed more- a nap, a drink, or a shower.
One of the 500+ other reviewers says he gave Black Dahlia four stars in a generous mood. I feel the same way about giving it two.
The performances range from overwrought to under-baked with very little in between. Hillary Swank does a dirty Kate Hepburn, badly. Fiona Shaw channels Bette Davis, grotesquely. Scarlett Johannson mimes Lana Turner, stiffly. And, in one of the very few bright spots, Josh Hartnett bares his bum, too briefly.
I watched this thing all the way through because I was ill and I was too uninvolved to change the channel. When it was over, I couldn't decide which I needed more- a nap, a drink, or a shower.
One of the 500+ other reviewers says he gave Black Dahlia four stars in a generous mood. I feel the same way about giving it two.