I guess I'm the only one...

I liked and I think the reason is I never expected anything from it. When I saw back in 2006 when it came out I never knew who Brian DePalma was, I "saw" scarface years before to even understand whats what. I saw the Untouchables was later.

Did it feel noir to me - absolutely. I think this was the reason I like that film. I actually watched it in the same week as I watched Hollywoodland. The acting maybe was over done in some parts and too pushed. The story line might have made no sense to some people - but then again it was Brian's interpretation of that murder case. I liked it more than I liked Untouchables.

You are not alone. The minute Scarlett Johanssen entered the frame, I was hooked. Hilary Swank camped it up - another good thing. For those who did not get it, too bad. For people comparing Black Dahlia with Scarface, two different creatures. It is like comparing Please, Please Me with Sgt. Pepper's LHCB, totally two different animals. It is film noir going through De Palma's filter and it is a good thing.

I gave it a 9. I really like it.



Plot Hole - the most overused and least understood phrase at IMDb

This is a damn good movie; a few mild flaws here and there, but great and memorable flick overall! The ending is haunting and I love how it plays like a 40's film-noir with a modern edge. I also like the blend of fact and fiction; the two are mixed just about perfectly! All the criticisms I've seen so far just seem like a bunch of meaningless nip-picks that are thrown out there because, evidently, it's a sin to like any de Palma movie that isn't 'Scarface'.

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!

I didn't like it excactly but I thought it was somewhat ok. The visuals were nice, the acting was good and the actors were fitting (especially Hartnett and Johansson fitted really well in my book). However the plot is in my opinion a mess. It's not as ununderstandable as people make it to be but there is no focus whatsoever. Sub-plots emerge, fade into the background, suddenly reemerge without remotely enough background. I get that it tried to cover multiple themes but none of them really did it and that's a shame because it really has it's moments. For instance the B/W clips of Elisabeth are a wonderful way to interact with the cops (and Mia Kirshner does a great job). It's just as exploiting as some of De Palma's other movies manage to be., peeping really is one of his favorite themes and he has a hand for it. But I think ultimately it falls flat because of the lacking focus. I've read that there was a different cut that Elroy himself enjoyed but it seems like it was altered (by the studio I think) before release. If they had released the original version this might have actually been really good, who knows.

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You see things; and you say Why? But I dream things that never were and I say Why not?

No you are not. While problems are evident, it's definitely better than its reputation in my eyes, certainly coming at it from a film noir lover's perspective it has much to laud.

But minority we shall be. Ho-Hum. 

The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217

I like Josh Hartnett, and I like a lot of dePalma films, but this one sent me to sleep, (and the tobacco product-placement was outrageous, ... did anyone take a breath of actual air in this movie?)

But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.