The Black Dahlia
Loses its audience.
Film noir can prove difficult to explore, so all credit to Brian
De Palma for risking such an undertaking where other directors passed -
even Fincher wouldn't touch the tale of California's most grisly
unsolved murder. It's most infuriating then, to see the 'Untouchables' director create something that's "noir-lite", the crime used as a background to the three way relationship between cops Hartnett and Eckhart, and Johansson's smouldering siren, while losing the audience in a mirage of names and twists, so it's difficult to care when Swank's silver spooned temptress appears. 'The Black Dahlia' could - and should - have been a gripping, edgy modern noir of murder, intrigue and sexual energy. Instead we are left with a tale too smug with its twists, that loses its audience in the process and is about thirty minutes too long, making you wonder what, say, David
Lynch could have crafted. [Steve Adams]