Hollywoodland is an exploration of fame and identity, inspired by one of Hollywood's most infamous real-life mysteries. On June 16, 1959, the glamour of Tinseltown permanently fades for actor George Reeves, the heroic Man of Steel on TV's "Adventures of Superman," as the actor dies in his Hollywood Hills home. Felled by a single gunshot wound, Reeves (portrayed in "Hollywoodland" by Ben Affleck) leaves behind a fiancée - aspiring starlet Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) - and millions of fans who are shocked by his death. But it is his grieving mother, Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith), who will not let the questionable circumstances surrounding his demise go unaddressed. Helen seeks justice, or at least answers. The Los Angeles Police Department closes the case, but Helen hires - for $50 a day - private detective Louis Simo (Adrien Brody). Simo soon ascertains that the torrid affair Reeves had with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), the wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins), might hold the key to the truth.But truth and justice are not so easily found in Hollywood. Simo pursues dangerous and elusive leads in both high and low places and, in trying to turn up the heat, risks getting burned. The detective also uncovers unexpected connections to his own life as the case turns more personal and he learns more about Reeves himself. Behind the icon was a complex man who gave his life to Hollywood in more ways than one.
I was kind of disappointed with this movie. Not by the movie itself, but more because of how it was advertised. This was supposed to be a big suspense movie that the preview made look awesome. I don't remember feeling the slightest inkling of suspense at any point of the movie. Getting past that, the movie wasn't horrendous. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. It was just kind of there and watchable. On the flip side, WW enjoyed the movie a lot because she was always interested in the mystery of Reeves death. However, she did agree that it was falsely advertised and Hollywood really needs to realize how much they can kill a movie by marketing it wrong like that.
I would slightly recommend everyone checking this movie out. If you don't rent it, you should definitely check it out when it hits cable.
