There’s one crane shot—starts at the entrance, sweeps over the roof, then circles back along the side street. Plus, one long Johnson subjective shot when he meets Hilary Swank's family. But whatever—it is what it is. 😢
Just walked out of the theater and honestly? It was nothing special. First off, everything is overproduced—too polished, too clean, totally artificial. Second, the acting is just wildly over-the-top; everyone is constantly hamming it up. Third, the entire plot feels like a disorganized mess. To wrap it up: if I didn't know Brian De Palma directed this, I’d swear it was something by Hrvoj Hribar.
crimsonmoose3 said:I thought the Black Dahlia movie had already been filmed? 😕 😕 Finished that book last week—wasn't exactly blowing me away. Honestly, I don't think I'll even touch L.A. Confidential... instead, I'm diving into Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter). 😍 )
wearygardener13 said:I can't say I'm surprised by the acting—but then again, De Palma is De Palma. 🙂 🙏
Sure, De Palma is a master—but we all know his style—he picks three or four scenes to direct brilliantly and just lets the rest happen. Personally, I'd much rather have had David Fincher handle the finish.
wearygardener13 said:Unlike you lot—all eagerly anticipating Borat—I’m actually waiting for Black Dahlia. One of my most consistent directors is tackling my favorite genre. I read on some film site that the reviews are trashed, and frankly, the casting looks off to me. Still, I'm hoping De Palma managed to pull off a damn good movie.🙂
So, predictions?
When James Ellroy's work is this brilliant, any attempt at trimming or condensing it does more harm than good. Specifically, Black Dahlia's plot features about six or seven perfect anti-climaxes and spans an absurdly long timeline with way too many subplots—which, knowing how formulaic Hollywood screenwriting gets, will likely all fall apart. A friend of mine saw it and was completely let down; she said the acting was terrible.
L.A. Confidential turned out to be an okay film, but certainly not the masterpiece the source material suggests—simply because you can't fit it all in. This stuff really belongs in a series format.
placidjackal36 said:—but claiming there was only one plane? absolute nonsense. that's a total insult to everyone who actually put in the work investigating September 11th.
Here we go again. Kozzže, you dark, twisted Kozzže, what have you done?!
Women are honestly incredible—so self-sufficient and whole without needing men at all. As a gay man raised under the thumb of an American religious dictatorship, I look at them as actual human beings rather than just objects of desire; I truly get their motives, their fears, and their hopes, mostly because, deep down, I feel like a woman myself. 🥳 🙂
It’s been obvious for years that Michael Mann lacks even a shred of a sense of humor—which might fly in a gritty drama like Insider (featuring two legendary actors, at least)—but approaching Miami Vice with this level of deadly seriousness in 2006 was a massive blunder. The way Farrell and Foxx use every single frame to pull these "oh-so-concerned" faces just makes the whole thing a colossal failure.
Andrew Scott98 said:Wait, what are the people on this site even talking about? This is the first time I've ever heard anything like that regarding this movie... They probably mean his next project, not this one.
Are you seriously suggesting that The Onion spreads misinformation? You're delusional.
Andrew Scott98 said:Of course there were no planes... Anyone who hasn't watched the documentary "Loose Change" should go find it online—it's practically public domain since there are no copyrights left to protect it. As far as I'm concerned, that film is a masterpiece—a solid ten out of ten—because it avoids all that typical American patriotic melodrama and exaggeration. Of course, you have to ignore the fact that the whole thing on 9/11 was just a massive global stage production, especially considering United Airlines 93 landed at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport at 10:45 AM right after a total evacuation. 🙂 And, btw, that "hijacker" in the photo from the first post? He's alive and well, working as an administrative supervisor for a Saudi airline—just like eight of the other "hijackers." 🙂
Not only that, but the WTC towers are still standing—they're just disguised with mirrors. A friend of mine was in New York City last week and managed to snap a shot from a blind spot:
For the naive souls who still don't grasp what actually happened, these next two photos will clear everything up:
You all are here getting worked up and arguing—but let’s be real—this whole movement was launched just so some filmmakers hungry for media attention can get a few soundbites in the papers and on camera.
It breaks my heart that Vicko Ruić will be forced to premiere his latest project—another one funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, where I’m sure Nada Gačešić-Livaković will deliver yet another career-defining performance—at a commercial AMC rather than at an elite theater in Europe. Hang in there, Vicko!
brightfox6 Asks: So, you're the one— Elizabeth—get me my slippers! A scheme?! 😉
I have to say—after he sings "I've grown accustomed to her face," having him sit there in his armchair listening to her voice on a record player... and then, when she actually shows up at the door? Sending her to grab his slippers after all that? Call me crazy, but I find that incredibly romantic. 😍
