Hollywoodland

Name: Hollywoodland
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller
Released: September 8, 2006
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, Bob Hoskins, Diane Lane

2006

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 68 Ratings

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5.9

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5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 68 Ratings

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Hollywoodland

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: September 8, 2006 | R

Starring: Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck, Bob Hoskins, Diane Lane

Summary: Hollywoodland is a uniquely compelling exploration of fame and identity, inspired by one of Hollywood's most infamous real-life mysteries. (Focus Features)

Director: Allen Coulter

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 126 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Jonathan Rosenbaum

The period details and performances are uniformly superb (Bob Hoskins is especially good as MGM executive Eddie Mannix), and the major characters are even more complex than those in "Chinatown." Read full review

Shawn Levy

While Coulter and company try gamely to forge two powerful stories, they manage, finally, about one-and-a-half -- which is a lot more than most films, and for which moviegoers should be grateful. Read full review

Premiere Glenn Kenny

Hollywoodland is one of the nicest surprises of the late summer lull between blockbuster seasons, a smart period mystery--cum--character study--cum--bitter parable on the lures and liabilities of life in its titular locale. Read full review

Jack Mathews

It's a bit of a hodgepodge - unnecessarily complicated, clumsily structured, uncertainly directed and, as a whodunit, ultimately unsatisfying. Read full review

Anthony Lane

Thanks to Lane, Hollywoodland, no great shakes as a thriller, becomes a quiet horror story about the monstrosity of time. Read full review

Peter Rainer

This movie might have been better if it hadn't fashioned itself as a cross between "Citizen Kane" and "Chinatown," and instead had used Reeves's story to dramatize the transitional state of 1950s Hollywood. Read full review

David Edelstein

Reeves had an easy but peppy presence that was very likable, and Affleck's moroseness doesn't do him justice...and it doesn't help that Adrien Brody--as the film's other protagonist, a burnt-out gumshoe--is more actorish than the supposed actor. Read full review

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User Reviews

Randy

Sep 23, 2006

Adrien Brody was superb, and what a complex, compelling and melancholy story! Whether George Reeves committed suicide or was murdered, it seems that the movie was saying that his life came to a sad end in a tawdry setting. Very thought-provoking film.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

AlfonsoM.

Feb 16, 2007

It was a great picture. The cinematography is top notch as well as costumes and the editing, a nice surprise

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Spangle

Feb 29, 2016

Featuring fantastic acting and a captivating detective story, Hollywoodland is a well-crafted film from director Allen Coulter that suffers from script issues. Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, and Bob Hoskins, all star here and are all phenomenal in their respective roles. The talentedFeaturing fantastic acting and a captivating detective story, Hollywoodland is a well-crafted film from director Allen Coulter that suffers from script issues. Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, and Bob Hoskins, all star here and are all phenomenal in their respective roles. The talented actors really elevate this film about your typical potboiler detective murder mystery type film. Additionally, the film really sheds some interesting light on fame and the quest for it from those in Hollywood, which was compelling and quite tragic. Additionally, the film received some criticism for being too slow, but I never felt that way. It was certainly on the slower side of things, but I never found the pacing of the film to be an issue. Rather, I appreciated that it did not feel the need to rush things along. However, the script kind of falters at times, namely that the story can quite muddled and jumbled at times. Characters come into the film and only come back later with minor significance, but you miss information because you spend too much time trying to remember who they were. This is Hollywoodland's biggest sin as it can come off as though there are too many characters and too much going on at times, which really muddle things up a bit. That being said, it is still a well made film that is quite entertaining with phenomenal acting performances.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JPP.

Nov 6, 2006

At first glance, the trailers for 'Hollywoodland' make the film out to be a seemingly compelling murder story. Upon actually seeing it though you'll soon realize, after about the first twenty minutes, it's merely a sub par one. Once it begins you're in for an almost At first glance, the trailers for 'Hollywoodland' make the film out to be a seemingly compelling murder story. Upon actually seeing it though you'll soon realize, after about the first twenty minutes, it's merely a sub par one. Once it begins you're in for an almost dismal ride that ends up going nowhere. One of its issues is that all the "likely" murder scenarios lack any evidence. The only thing that even holds each person as a suspect is some sort of motive, which only adds to the film's already stagnant disposition. Next you have the ghastly performance given by Affleck. The fact he plays Reeves is ironic in a sad way. Here we have a mediocre actor playing a mediocre actor who hates himself because he's viewed by the public as a joke. The only difference is Affleck has yet to come to the realization that he himself is also a joke. Yes, I will give him some credit, there are a couple of split seconds where he actually does really well, but its nothing really worth mentioning. As for Brody, all I'll say is he's okay. He's not great, he's not lousy, just plainly okay. Its Lane that truly shines here. She does an absolutely amazing job with her role as the emotionally unstable Toni Mannix. I hope when Oscar time comes around she gets a nod. Sadly, all the other members of the cast present only ordinary performances. I'm disappointed in the way 'Hollywoodland' turned out. I believed it was going to be really good, and all it ended up being was just fair. I suppose I shouldn't have had such high expectations for a film that's director, Allen Coulter, had only done TV shows up until this point. I will admit, it's not all bad. The style and retro visuals were nice, but all in all, the only thing offered is an outstanding performance from Diane Lane. Much like the story told in the film, 'Hollywoodland' is nothing more than a film filled with all glitz and no glamour.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Robertxxx

Oct 9, 2006

Brody is so miscast that it sinks the whole film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

[Anonymous]

Sep 28, 2006

Worst movie I've seen in a while. At least Brody is interesting enough to look at.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Goffy

Sep 11, 2006

Much ado about nothing. Poor effort.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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