Tagline: In a town full of fiction, everyone has a version of the truth.
“Hollywoodland” is a uniquely compelling exploration of fame and identity, inspired by one of Hollywood’s most infamous real-life mysteries. The film is the feature directorial debut for Allen Coulter (Emmy and DGA Award nominee for his work on “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City”).
Felled by a single gunshot wound, Reeves (portrayed in “Hollywoodland” by Academy Award winner Ben Affleck) leaves behind a fiancée – aspiring starlet Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney) – and millions of fans who are shocked by his death. But it is his grieving mother, Helen Bessolo (Lois Smith), who will not let the questionable circumstances surrounding his demise go unaddressed. Helen seeks justice, or at least answers.
The Los Angeles Police Department closes the case, but Helen hires – for $50 a day – private detective Louis Simo (Academy Award winner Adrien Brody). Simo soon ascertains that the torrid affair Reeves had with Toni Mannix (Academy Award nominee Diane Lane), the wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix (Academy Award nominee Bob Hoskins), might hold the key to the truth.
But truth and justice are not so easily found in Hollywood. Simo pursues dangerous and elusive leads in both high and low places and, in trying to turn up the heat, risks getting burned. The detective also uncovers unexpected connections to his own life as the case turns more personal and he learns more about Reeves himself. Behind the icon was a complex man who gave his life to Hollywood in more ways than one.
Hollywoodland is a 2006 American period mystery film directed by Allen Coulter and written by Paul Bernbaum. The story presents a fictionalized account of the circumstances surrounding the death of actor George Reeves (played by Ben Affleck), the star of the 1950s television series Adventures of Superman. Adrien Brody stars as a fictional character, Louis Simo, a private detective investigating Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), who was involved in a long romantic relationship with Reeves and was the common-law wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). Reeves had ended the affair and had become engaged to a younger woman, aspiring actress Leonore Lemmon (Robin Tunney).
Development for Hollywoodland began in 2001 when Focus Features purchased Bernbaum’s script titled Truth, Justice, and the American Way. Michael and Mark Polish were set to direct with Benicio del Toro in the lead role, but Focus Features placed the film in turnaround to Miramax Films the following year. Ultimately Truth, Justice, and the American Way became a joint production between the two studios and filming commenced in May 2005 with veteran television director Coulter making his feature directorial debut. Due to copyright issues with DC Comics, the film was retitled Hollywoodland, released to generally positive reviews.
Hollywoodland (2006)
Directed by: Allen Coulter
Starring: Adrien Brody, Diane Lane, Ben Affleck, Bob Hoskins, Kathleen Robertson, Steve Adams, Jordan Barker, Donald Burda, Larry Cedar, Eric Kaldor, Molly Parker, Zach Mills
Screenplay by: Paul Bernbaum
Production Design by: Leslie McDonald
Cinematography by: Jonathan Freeman
Film Editing by: Michael Berenbaum
Costume Design by: Julie Weiss
Set Decoration by: Odetta Stoddard
Art Direction by: Patrick Banister
Music by: Marcelo Zarvos
MPAA Rating: R for language, some violence and sexual content.
Distributed by: Focus Features
Release Date: September 8, 2006
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