Negative Positive
Title: Excellent performances make for an entertaining, engaging film
Review: Ben Affleck shines in an intentionally understated portrayal of TV's Superman, George Reeves. Reeves, who resisted the Superman role and tried desperately to return to more serious acting, finally succumbed to his chronic depression and killed himself in 1959--or did he? In this fictional account, down and out private detective Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) sets out to discover just that. Oscar-winner Brody delivers and excellent performance; his Simo is struggling with his own muddled life, which allows the character (and the viewer) to draw parallels between himself and the doomed Reeves. In the end, the film suggests that Reeves's death may not have been much of a mystery after all, but the theme of a life tragically lost is still evident, along with the hope that things can always change for the better. Excellent supporting performances from Diane Lane and Bob Hoskins round out this enjoyable and thoroughly engaging movie.
Is the review positive or negative? 