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Title: as bloodless and lifeless as the title character
Review: Granted we realise that De Palma has had more misses than hits over his career but when he hits, he does it so well and with great movies like Scarface and The Untouchables on his CV, I for one thought Ellroy's The Black Dahlia would be a great fit. I loved the book but realise that Ellroy's prose and complex plotting do not make for easy transition to the screen. But it can be done. Hello LA Confidential. And so the incomprehensible mess that is The Black Dahlia is just a major, major disappointment. Even for one who has read the book it is unforgivably confusing! The film seems to have no focus and despite it looking fabulous it is completely devoid of life. And that's all before we get to the last 30 minutes! Now I love high camp as much as the next person but the film's last scene is just laughable - and unfortunately not in a good way. A shame.
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