Why, dear lord, did I waste my time watching "The Black Dahlia"

[LynneSin]

I think Brian DePalma owes me 2 hours of my life back - that movie was so horrible

[AlCzervik]

1. thanks for posting, i was tempted to get it on-demand.

[Corgigal]

2. I felt the same way

and it should have been good. Why they destroyed an interesting real event, I'll never know. The books on this crime are always engrossing.

[LynneSin]

4. It's almost like the actual murder was just a side incident

and there were too many characters - I had no clue how they were all connected; although, if I'm correct these are all fictionalized characters based around a famous unsolved murder

[Arkham House]

3. Try "The Blue Dahlia", if you want to get the bad taste out of your mouth...

...Ladd and Lake, a classic 40s film noir...if we must have dahlias, this is the one to see...

[querelle]

5. Agreed

I loved the book. James Ellroy is one of my favourite authors and I don't even care for the crime genre that much. But that movie.....I had such high hopes for it and left the theatre very disappointed. I have to admit that it was very stylish and captured late 40's L.A. quite well, but the whole story was just a mess from start to finish. A total waste of time.

If you haven't already, get a copy of the book. It's very good.

Q

[Frank Cannon]

7. The book WAS really good

And I was really looking forward to someone adapting it for the screen. Looks like DePalma fucked up spectacularly yet again.

[querelle]

10. Curtis Hanson..........

.......could have done a better job than DePalma I think. He did a fantastic job of Ellroy's L.A. Confidential. It was one of the few film adaptations that was just as good as the book IMHO.

Q

[Frank Cannon]

19. I agree on all counts

I can't really bash DePalma's version too badly since I never saw it, but I heard enough about it (and am familiar enough with DePalma's work) to know it bears little relation to its excellent source material.

[mitchum]

15. I've been rereading all of Ellroy's work the past month or so

I read all of his books as they were released. I was impressed then and find that his work still stands up. He really does transcend the genre.

[peekaloo]

6. I debated between 'TBD' and 'Hollywoodland' and chose the latter.

It's a better movie.

with the exception of 'The Untouchables' I tend to avoid DePalma's "films".

[Kerrytravelers]

8. We went on opening weekend.

I want the 2 hours of my life back AND my admission ticket fee back.

:grr:

[Seabiscuit]

9. It was all the media hype - kind of like the biggest waste of money ever,

"The Blair Witch Project".

[LynneSin]

11. The Blair Witch Project was way more entertaining than this

seriously

[Seabiscuit]

12. Not to me. Blair Witch ranks right down there with "Druids" in my book.

[Paladin]

13. BIG Disappointment For Me.....

....considering that the movie of Ellroy's "L.A. Confidential" may be my favorite flick, ever, and I generally go for noir films.

Better casting would have helped matters.....

[Richardo]

14. You should have read my post from New Years, Lynne.

I tried to warn you. :hug:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=6011674&mesg_id=6011674

On the other hand, watched 'The Departed' last night and it is GOOD.

[mitchum]

16. Howard Hughes killed Elizabeth Short

seriously

[Left Is Write]

17. Because hers is a fascinating story and you fervently hoped the movie would do it justice?

[bridgit]

18. didn't that movie suck! i thought it was going to be more based on the book...

which covers some very odd & shady shenanigans round & about the LA coroner at the time; indeed what a waste x(