Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Hollywoodland is an ambitious movie, that for the most part, pulls off something amazing. Beautifully recreating the look and the feel of the 1950's, while drawing us into a mystery that to this day has not been solved.

June 1959, and one of America's most recognizable figures is dead. George Reeves, who captured the heart of every kid as Man Of Steel Superman, was found dead, by a single gunshot. The police rule it a suicide, and are anxious to close the case. But George's mother doesn't believe it. She hires down-on-his-luck investigator Luis Simo to investigate, what she believes, is her son's murder.

The movie follows two separate paths from that point forward. We watch as Simo (Adrien Brody) tries to figure out what really happened that night. He follows clues as well as he can, even as it becomes clear that some people are motivated to do whatever they have to do, to stop him from digging around. Along the way, we'll learn all about Simo's personal life. We learn of his strained relationship with his ex-wife, and their young son. And we see a man drink too much, and fall further into despair. We also see him attempting to "visualize" events in the past, as he tries to put the pieces together. Thus we'll see the same scene several times, with different outcomes, as Simo's thoughts continue to evolve, regarding what really happened that fateful night.

In alternating scenes, we're shown flashbacks into the life of George Reeves (played by Ben Affleck). We first meet George as a young actor whose bit part in Gone With The Wind went pretty much unnoticed. He begins what ends up being a long term affair with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), wife of MGM studio executive Edgar Mannix. When he's offered the role in a new children's TV Show, it's really not what he's looking for. He feels silly and embarrassed wearing a suit and cape, and playing down to kids. Yet, he bows to pressure and takes the job. Later, when he tries to get some serious acting roles, he finds himself typecast to the point that he can't get the roles he's looking for. This leaves him understandably depressed.

But was he depressed enough to kill himself?

The movie explores several possibilities. For instance, Toni, furious after George dumps her and gets engaged to the much younger Leonore. There's Leonore, herself, upset after George calls off the wedding. Of course, Edgar Mannix certainly had reason to go after Reeves, too. With so many suspects, I was definitely drawn into the mystery.

Visually, this movie is a delight. I thought the 50's came to life with the clothes, the scenery, the cars, etc. I kept looking for something to appear out of place, but I never found anything. It all looked correct to me. (Not that I was around back then, so I'm certainly no expert). Still, I felt transformed back to another time and place.

The movie was not boring for a second. I was definitely interested in the two story arcs, all the while wondering what clue would be uncovered next. Most of the performances were terrific. Affleck gave me a very complex Reeves, despondent over what he sees as a failed life, unable to enjoy being a hero to millions of kids, and always looking for more.

Diane Lane's Toni was a delight to watch. Originally, it seemed like she really cared for Reeves, but later we find out she was really just playing with him. He was just someone to amuse her, someone in whom she really had no faith at all. A complex role, handled very well, by Lane.

My only complaint would be in Brody's performance. He simply looked too young, too inexperienced, and frankly, too goofy for the part. He looked like a kid, trying to get "the big scoop" for his high school newspaper, rather than a serious investigator. I didn't buy him as a dad, nor as ex-husband to the beautiful Molly Parker. No offense meant to Brody, but he looked "silly" in this role. I just feel it was a terrible miscast.

With some bad language, and some sex scenes, this movie is not for kids. But I do feel it's a well-made movie that most adults would enjoy.

Recommended: Yes

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age