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Article: NO NEW CLUES IN LOCAL GIRL'S SLAYING ` DE PALMA'S ADAPTATION OF 'BLACK DAHLIA' MURDER MYSTERY IS SHORT ON SUBSTANCE - AND GOOD ACTING
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- September 15, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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By Wesley Morris, Globe Staff
Since "The Black Dahlia" more or less tells the story of an
actress, a heinously murdered one at that, it makes sense that the
first thing you notice about this so-so adaptation of James Ellroy's
novel is the shoddy acting.
Fixating on the performances seems inevitable since it's a Brian
De Palma picture. The director bears the unique distinction of being
responsible for some of the most sublime performances in the movies
(Sissy Spacek in "Carrie," say, or John Travolta in "Blow Out") and
some of the worst (see "Bonfire of the Vanities" or don't). But "The
Black Dahlia" is woefully short on the sublime.
Ellroy's 1987 novel spun the notorious butchering of ...