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The Black Dahlia By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- When the horribly mutilated body of aspiring actress Elizabeth "Betty" Short was found in a vacant lot in Los Angeles in 1947, the crime caught the public's imagination like few others, and the never-solved crime continues to be the stuff of legend. "The Black Dahlia" (Universal) is Brian DePalma's adaptation of writer James Ellroy's novel -- which was penned as a catharsis for the author, who saw parallels between Short's story and the murder of his own mother when he was 10. In Ellroy's version, though, Short herself is secondary to the saga of two Los Angeles cops, Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert (Josh Hartnett) -- whose exposition-heavy narration runs throughout -- and Lee Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart), who become friends after facing off in the boxing ring to promote the LAPD and later are chosen to investigate the case of the young woman with the trademark black wardrobe and flower in her hair. Bucky soon finds himself in a platonic menage with Lee and the latter's longtime girlfriend, Kay (Scarlett Johansson). Bucky and Kay become attracted to each other, but rather than betray his friend, Bucky instead lets himself fall under the sway of a seductive rich girl, Madeleine (Hilary Swank), who, as it happens, resembles murder victim Betty (Mia Kirshner), and whose powerful father, Emmet (John Kavanagh), and loony mother, Ramona (Fiona Shaw), seem like bad news from the get-go. DePalma's film-noir homage looks terrific in terms of production design, but is uneven as drama (with an overly complex script). So, too, there are many stylish flourishes and generally good performances, particularly by Hartnett and Eckhart. Though Johansson and Swank look great in their 1940s' attire, they don't quite live up to actual screen ladies of that period. Unfortunately, the pileup of sordid revelations, though part and parcel of the noir genre, in addition to sundry other lurid plot elements, pushes what might have been an "L" film into the "O" category. The film contains rough and crude language, general decadence, sexual situations and innuendo, much violence, a couple of brutal boxing matches, some grisly imagery, a re-creation of the lesbian underworld, pornography, adultery, incest, rear nudity, murder, suicide and drug use. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. - - - Forbes is director of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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