I
recently got an email from Los Angeles' premier public relations guru Edward Lozzi.
With the opening of "Hollywoodland," Ed sent out an email he had sent
to Jim Nolt on March 7, 2000 discussing his relationship with George Reeves' paramour
Toni Mannix. Lozzi met elderly Toni in 1979 and became her confidante.
Lozzi
wrote: "Yes, George Reeves was murdered. Yes, Toni Mannix was mean enough,
connected enough, and had motive enough to make it happen. And yes, finally, she
told me what she did. Was it the truth? Was she fucking with my head on her way
out? Did she know Lenore [Reeves' fiancé] would want to know this is what
she did? Who knows? All I know is that what she told me soon before she died became
an anchor around my neck for a long time. I am just the messenger, and for me
at this time, it was right to bring it into the record."
"Hollywoodland"
is a gripping noir telling of the 1959 death of TV's "Superman" George
Reeves (Ben Affleck). Quickly it was announced Reeves' death was a suicide, but
"Hollywoodland" suggests that Reeve's death might have been murder.
Apparently, rumors flew. Private investigator Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) is hired
by Reeves' mother (Lois Smith) who refuses to believe her son shot himself.
Simo
starts investigating and soon finds out that there was a quick and dirty cover-up.
Through frequent inter-connecting flashbacks, we see how struggling actor Reeves
landed in the Hollywood fast track once he embarked on a love affair with much
older Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), the wife of the powerful General Manager of MGM,
Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). They began living together and Toni happily paid all
the bills.
When
the role of Superman comes along, Reeves doesn't want to do it. Talked into doing
it, he soon hates the cape. He wanted to be a serious actor, not the guy doing
studio promotions crashing through walls for kids. He becomes ashamed of being
typecast as Superman. When "The Adventures of Superman" ends, Reeves'
can't get another job.
Even
with the adoration and influence of his mentor-lover, Reeves dumps Toni for a
much younger socialite hellion, Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney). Toni is devastated
and Eddie is quite sympathetic to his wife's cruel dismissal. He ruins Reeves'
plans to direct a movie in New York. But was that enough? Did Eddie have Reeves'
murdered as a gift to his wife? Did Toni arrange it? Did Leonore, fed up with
Reeves' unemployment and drinking, do it? She was there the night Reeves' died
and it took those present 45 minutes to call the police.
All
of this, and Simo is having problems with his ex-wife, his P.I. business, his
former colleagues, and his girlfriend.
I
understand that Ben Affleck is not doing any press junkets for ‘Hollywoodland."
Good move Ben! Your work here is impressive and you show an understanding and
sympathy for the character. As long as you stay away from whoring yourself out
to the tabloids and magazines and show everyone you want to be a serious actor,
(as well as staying away from Jerry Bruckheimer and Kevin Smith projects), there
might still be a career for you. You have the face and physique for thrillers
and mysteries. Leave romantic leads to Hugh Grant.
The
director, Allen Coulter, gives "Hollywoodland" a fluid, sexy pace and
Brody's languid style is well suited for this Hollywood noir. Diane Lane is perfect
as the wounded, older woman casually cast aside. While screenwriter Paul Bernbaum
leaves solving this mystery up to the viewer, he should have laid the blame somewhere.
After all, lovers come and go, what was Toni and Eddie's true motive, if indeed,
they contracted his murder?
