I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Two policemen see their personal and professional lives fall apart in the wake of the "Black Dahlia" murder investigation. The Black Dahlia has an impressive and talented cast but it's a poor man's Sin City and a poor film Noir and what makes it a suprising failure is that it was directed by Brian De Palma (Scarface, Carlito's Way and Mission Impossible). The overall plot is also boring and the characters are so bland, overall a waste of time and talent. (0/10)

The film takes to back to those days. Happy New Year 1947. It has some classy music running in the background and the movie has been shot beautifully. Scarlett Johansson looks extremely hot as she tries to seduce Josh Harnett. Aaron Eckhart plays his role really well and Josh harnett looks extremely handsome and plays his part beautifully too. An entertaining film that I enjoyed.

While writing this post, I discovered that the Black Dahila is a very fictional tale of an event that really happen. Based on a book that talks about the real case, This movie adaption takes the unsolved mystery and runs with an over glorified possible scenario with a focus on two cops working the case.De Palma mentioned his love of Hicthcock and its cool that I am seeing that love in his movie style, being brought out (or I see it best) in these light but violent out burst that you see when characters fight or get in a gun battle. It's dark in tone, but at the same time stylized not to be.He styles a seen to feel very colorful, but then characters make physical contact and it can through you off a little, as it emphasizes the violence.It Possibly stands out more because it's a period piece taking place in golden age Hollywood (I'm a sucker for those kinds of movies). If the movie was made in 1947 like when it takes place, Universal, the studio that released it, would tell De Palma he could not get away with what most audiences today would consider no big deal.I think De Palma did that on purpose too, cause I see the same vibe in another period piece he made, the Untouchables, as well, I've seen it in Mission Impossible.De Palma got a really good cast that puts you in that period as well. Josh Hartnett got to act along side Aaron Eckhart who's a really good actor. Plus Scarlett Johansson easily looks like a women from that era. The costumes and the sets all gel together really well to complete the mood. I love how modern cinematographers tend to shoot golden age Hollywood in a way that makes California feel sunny and Romantic at the same time (Usually a sunny and romantic California that hides a very dark underworld). Plus this guy was pulling out all the Hicthcock style shoots and angles.Black Dahlia is definitely a De Palma film worth seeing, a dark tale about the criminal underbelly of the gorgeous Hollywood of yesteryear, it's a unsung gem that can shine the high notes like Roman Polanski's Chinatown (if only it was made during the same time frame)http://cinemagardens.com

1940s Los Angeles. Two cops, Bucky Bleichert and his partner, Lee Blanchard, investigate the death of a young woman found brutally murdered. Bucky soon realises that his current girlfriend had ties to the deceased, and soon after that, he begins uncovering corruption and conspiracy within the police department........Every director has a bad film in their repertoire, that one mistake that ever so slightly tarnishes an illustrious career. Spielberg has 1941, Scorcese has Gangs Of New York, and Michael Bay has his CV.This is De Palmas misstep. But what a misstep it is. Usually with his movies, you have the wonderful cinematography that adds that depth that is synonymous with his movies, and it's here in all its glory, but it's overused, as if he's trying to cover the fact that the whole film is an incoherent mess.So we have two hours and one minute of Josh Hartnett walking around, looking confused, and being either mocked, threatened, punched, made to look a fool, and discovering so etching just as it's too late. And he looks as confused as the audience. The story of The Black Dahlia is a fascinating insight to Hollywoods seedier side, but it's dealt here with a fist fully loaded with ham, and alongside Hartnett, the cast are simply putting in over camp pantomime performances.Johanssen, when she's not looking at Hartnett from the top of the stairs, is just mind numbing as a wannabe Femme Fatale, woefully miscast in her role.Swank makes an extended cameo and spends the majority of it in bed, but she has a secret that is pivotal to the narrative AKA she helps to end it.Eckhart phones in his performance, mugging aimlessly throughout, and just adding to the whole mess.It's nothing more than a best of De Palma cinematography compilation, featuring a miscast, usually better people, a pantomime villain, and it will leave you with a headache and a tinge of anger, because you know the director is so much better than this.