3 out of 5

Director: Brian De Palma

Visually very attractive, if a little too pretty, De Palmas Black Dahlia isnt all as bad as the critics made it out to be (11% on Rotten Tomatoes?), but I guess thats what happens when youre such a dividing film-maker as De Palma. The main criticism here is that theres such a meaty, interesting story that the script is aware of, and that the cast is aware of, but that never makes it to the screen. This would be a sin IF it wasnt appealing to watch. Hartnett still bounces just on the fringes of manly, but has ditched most of his grin to really sink into the noirish role of one of two buddy cops who gets mixed up in the weird Dahlia case. Eckhart is similarly great and yet not excellent, fully invested in his role but robbed of connecting scenes thanks to the way the script and shooting bounces around the material. Same goes for most of what happens here. It has De Palmas assured touch but none of his interest – it seems he reigned in most of his overt stylistic touches to try and stay grounded, but the film thus takes on a veneer that doesnt work in the same way that it does in noir like Chinatown (juxtaposing the glamour with the dirt). So: I was entertained. The plot is thrown at you in lingo and ridiculousness in such a way that it no longer matters who what where when why, and then it ends, and keeps going, and ends, and you keep watching. Empty, but pretty.