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Created Dec 01, 2007 01:37PM PST • Edited Oct 21, 2023 06:59AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   For grown fans of the original Superman TV show, Hollywoodland soothes a longstanding itch. Engagingly acted and well produced, this whodunnit joins the pantheon of high quality Hollywood murder mysteries.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   Ben Affleck’s understated and self-effacing leading man delivers real charm, while Diane Lane’s glamorous Hollywood princess, Bob Hoskins’ malevolent studio head, and Adrien Brody’s mannered private eye make Hollywoodland an acting tour-de-force.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

   Ben Affleck’s disappointing career bears some similarity to George Reeves’. Playing Reeves in Hollywoodland, Affleck is relaxed, funny and self-deprecating, ironically making this his most enjoyable starring role yet (not especially high praise, admittedly).

   Bob Hoskins is a treat as the malevolent studio boss and only-in-Hollywood husband.
   Adrien Brody is sufficiently watchable as the guy who is on screen more than any other.

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

   Diane Lane proves herself a star for all seasons by playing middle-aged in Hollywoodland. Not only does she pull it off handily, she demonstrates more than a little courage in doing so, given the youth obsession of the movie business.

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.3

17. Sex Erotic 2.6

18. Violence Fierce 1.8

19. Rudeness Profane 2.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

    Adrien Brody’s private eye character was a fiction created to observe Reeves’ story, so I had to give Hollywoodland a circoreality score of 2×.

22. Circumstantial Glib 2.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0