The Black Dahlia

Name: The Black Dahlia
Genre: Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Released: September 15, 2006
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 49
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson

2006

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 35 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 206 Ratings

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2.8

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2.8	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 206 Ratings

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The Black Dahlia

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: September 15, 2006 | R

Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson

Summary: The Black Dahlia weaves a fictionalized tale of obsession, love, corruption, greed and depravity around the brutal murder of a fledgling Hollywood starlet that shocked and fascinated the nation in 1947 and remains unsolved today. (Universal Pictures)

Director: Brian De Palma

Genre(s): Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 121 min

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Critic Reviews

Nathan Rabin

Hartnett and co-star Scarlett Johansson--that most fatale of current filmic femmes--are naturals for this kind of noir-hued material, but the pairing of Ellroy and De Palma proves a marriage made in hardboiled heaven. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

The film is more than a little in love with the corruption it finds under the floorboards -- and that, of course, is perfectly dandy. I wouldn't trust a film noir that wasn't enthralled by decadence. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

If this overcooked version of James Ellroy’s novel - inspired by a famous 1947 Los Angeles murder - is less than fully satisfying or even believable storytelling and acting, it’s still possible to get a kick out of this fever dream loaded with eye candy. Read full review

Peter Travers

Looks and flows great, dripping with the 1940s crime-thriller atmosphere that James Ellroy described in his 1987 novel. On other levels -- plot (overstuffed), suspense (muted), acting (Hilary Swank as a femme fatale? Please!), posing (Scarlett Johansson plays dress-up as a mini Lana Turner), sex (it's all before and after) -- the movie is a bust. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Beautifully crafted, intricately plotted and obviously a labor of love. It is also a mess. Read full review

Jack Mathews

In writer Josh Friedman and director Brian de Palma's attempts to condense the book's convulsively odd final chapters, they've created an even loonier melodrama. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Forty-five minutes in, I was already glancing at my watch and wondering why the only lively actress in this film was playing the dead girl. Go figure. Read full review

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User Reviews

Oct 15, 2006

A brave bit of storytelling, brazenly un-PC, my favorite of the recent rash of pulp movies. Also lovely to see real cinematic ability on display here -- even Scorsese's latest movie is obviously a product of the MTV generation, while this movie could have been made during the Golden A brave bit of storytelling, brazenly un-PC, my favorite of the recent rash of pulp movies. Also lovely to see real cinematic ability on display here -- even Scorsese's latest movie is obviously a product of the MTV generation, while this movie could have been made during the Golden Age of cinema. Standouts are Aaron Eckhart, whose '40s throwback performance layered with '90s indie naturalism stole the show, and William Finley's small but very important role was a pleasant surprise. It was a real pleasure to see the Phantom of the Paradise himself onscreen again. I'll agree with most that Hartnett and Johansson very nearly ruined this film's chances, but the movie is too solid overall to be discounted. See it in a theater for the full effect!… Expand