The Black Dahlia

This movie is a tribute to film noir and the classic "whodunit?" genre.  Brian DePalma's dramatization based on the actual murder of Elizabeth Short (known as The Black Dahlia) in the 1940's, stars Josh Hartnett as Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert, Aaron Eckhart as Lee Blanchard, Scarlett Johansson as Kay Lake and Hilary Swank as Madeliene Linscott.  There's also the portrayal of murdered Elizabeth Short by Mia Kirshner.  The film begins with the partnering up of Bucky and Lee and the friendship that develops which includes Lee's girlfriend Kay.  Things begin to change with the trio when Lee hears of the release of a criminal who had violated Kay, Lee becomes beside himself trying to figure out a way to make the situation smooth over and calm Kay down.  In the midst of an officer involved shooting, another murder, a more vicious and heinous crime is right in the backyard of the current crime scene.


Here is where DePalma interjects true history into his film.  A mutilated body of a young woman is discovered, severed in half, hacked and sliced.  The woman is eventually discovered to be Elizabeth Short.  Lee becomes obsessed with the case and trying to solve the crime.  He is disturbed by the image of the young lady and the information that the police uncovers about her past.  It is a sad story of a woman discounted by society and  slowly taken advantage of because of her beauty.  She wants to be a starlet, but is turned to the gutter.  Lee's obsession with the case causes conflict in both his relationships with Kay and Bucky.


Bucky slowly unveils a series of twists and turns surrounding this crime that begins to drag him down into a world that he never expected to discover.  He learns things about those closest to him that sends shockwaves.


It is an excellent movie, the only issue that I had with it was that it dragged a little to me and that all of the twists are dumped on you towards the end of the film.  There is no development of these subplots, they just leave you hanging.

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Next up is "Gosford Park."