5/10
2006-09-15 R The Black Dahlia

The Black Dahlia

Inspired by the most notorious unsolved murder in California history.

Release Date: 2006-09-15

Rating: 5.627 / 10

Runtime: 121 mins

In 1940s Los Angeles, two former boxers-turned-cops must grapple with corruption, narcissism, stag films and family madness as they pursue the killer of an aspiring young actress.


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Details


Runtime

121 minutes

Release Date

2006-09-15

Budget

$50,000,000

Box Office Earnings

$49,111,202

Cast and Crew Members

Crew Members

Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma Director
Josh Friedman
Josh Friedman Screenplay
T. Rafael Cimino
T. Rafael Cimino Writer

Awards and Nominations

Oscar - CINEMATOGRAPHY

Year: 2007
Status: 🎭 Nominated

Audience Reviews

Read authentic reviews from real viewers about this movie.

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  • John Doe's avatar

    John Chard

    Rating: 7/10

    "I have been pointing my gun at a lot of people this week. A box office failure and a neo-noir film that confounded critics and fans alike, The Black Dahlia now appears to be a pic that has had its strengths ignored. As the clamour to kick Brian De Palma continues unabated to this day, and the point blank refusal to accept that Josh Hartnett is a better actor than the likes of Pearl Harbor suggests, it's a film worthy of a revisit by genre/style fans alike. Plot revolves around the infamous murder of one Elizabeth Short in Hollywood, 1947. An aspiring actress who was found butchered and her murder to this day remains unsolved. De Palma and his writer Josh Friedman adapt from noir legend James Ellroy's novel of the same name, the crux of the story is about two hot-to-trot detectives who get involved in the Short case, and pretty soon there is a can of worms that has been shaken and opened, and there's dizzying worms everywhere - we think? De Palma loves noir, he has dabbled with it for a long time, not all of it works, but often he delivers for like minded cinephiles. With expectation levels high and following in the slipstream of the critical darling that was L.A. Confidential, Black Dahlia never really had a hope of achieving its lofty ambitions, yet it's a tremendously realised picture from a noir stand point. Whilst it showcases the technical wizardry of the director. The charges of it being convoluted are fair, it's a spinning narrative, stories within stories, characterisations obtuse, but so was The Big Sleep! I know, I know, this is not fit to lace the boots of Hawks' genius movie, but tricksy narratives have always been a fundamental part of many a film noir, so why the distaste for this one? Especially since the period design, costuming, styling, photography and characterisations are so rich in detail? For instance Hartnett's detective is gumshoe nirvana, while Scarlett Johansson and Hilary Swank fatale the femme with mischievous glee. But of course De Palma then spells it out for the finale, explaining things, a sort of macabre wrap up for those that needed it. Either way he was never going to win, it's too complex, it didn't need spelling out, while Mr. De Palma we have to tell you that your characters have been too cold, we don't feel them?! Huh? This is noirville, a place frequented by bad people, idiots and hapless dreamers, of dupes and double crossers. Hell there's even a suggestion of necrophiliac tendencies in this, and that's before we even delve into the machinations of the two femme fatales, a family that's lacking Adams Family Values and coppers of dubious motives. Yeah, it's cold, and yes De Palma is guilty of trying to please all parties by covering all bases, but it's far from being a stinker. Haters of De Palma, Hartnett and complex noir narratives can knock two points off of my own personal rating, otherwise it's 7/10."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the runtime of the The Black Dahlia ?

The movie is approximately 121 minutes long.

What is the The Black Dahlia's release date?

2006-09-15 marks the official release date of the movie.

What genre is the The Black Dahlia?

The movie belongs to the Crime Thriller Drama genres, offering a variety of experiences from adventure to fantasy.

Who are the main actors in the The Black Dahlia?

The lead actors include Josh Hartnett , Scarlett Johansson , and Aaron Eckhart , among others.

Who directed The Black Dahlia?

The movie was directed by Brian De Palma

What is the The Black Dahlia's budget?

The movie had an estimated budget of $50,000,000 .

How much did The Black Dahlia movie earn at the box office?

A Cinderella Story grossed an estimated $49,111,202 at the box office.

What are some production companies behind the The Black Dahlia movie?

Major production companies include Linson Entertainment Universal Pictures Signature Pictures Equity Pictures Medienfonds GmbH & Co. KG III Davis Films Millennium Media Nu Image .

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