Been revisiting Allen Coulter's Hollywoodland for the first time since it was released in 2006. Such a terrific and underrated portrait of the life and mysterious death of George Reeves, the troubled star of the 1950s Superman television series. Was his 1959 death a suicide (the official verdict) or murder? Through the eyes of Adrien Brody's down-at-his-heels private eye character, the movie presents several plausible explanations for his demise, but ultimately this will forever remain one of Hollywood's most enduring mysteries. Ben Affleck really does shine in the role of George Reeves, his mannerisms and accent are often uncanny. This was the movie that started me rethinking my opinion of Affleck's talents, and I'm really keen to see how he takes on the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman in the upcoming Batman/Superman crossover film (though I still think it's a bit early to reboot Batman after the Chris Nolan/Christian Bale trilogy). The set design and costuming in Hollywoodland are beautiful, as is Diane Lane, who plays the part of the older woman, married to a powerful studio boss, who takes Reeves as her kept lover (ironically, Lane recently played Clark Kent/Superman's earth mother in this years disappointing Man of Steel).
