The Black Dahlia - Movie Review

Good article. Having read the book several years ago, I must stay that this movie's failings are more the fault of the source material than anything. This film is virtually identical to the book's meandering plotline. I say: Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar since the two fail on exactly the same level.

Yeah, good review, you nailed it.. it's basically a wandering mess, constantly looking like it might be going somewhere and then taking another maddening detour, which might be okay if the scenery wasn't so boring.

de palma's taking the "3 good scenes, no bad scenes" idea way too literally

the movie's failings have nothing to do with the novel--which is exceptional--and everything to do with a director ill-equipped for the material (everything is 'off' in this film) and a horrible cast. de palma and the screenwriter obviously decided they'd prefer to fit everything in the novel into a film, rather than streamlining it as was done in 'l.a. confidential'. the novel is nutso, but it's not laughable. this film is just that.