The Black Dhalia.....I've seen better

Movies come and movies go, but a good mystery never goes out of style...or does it? "The Black Dhalia" is a new film from Universal Pictures that is inspired by a novel written by James Ellroy. Josh Hartnett plays "Ice" or Bucky Bleichert, and ex-boxer who turns police officer during one of the most corrupt times in California State's Police Department. His partner, Sgt. Leland Lee Blanchard, a.k.a. "Fire" is played by Aaron Eckhart. Eckhart is also an ex-boxer, who perhaps is a stronger male character than Hartnett is n this case. Hillary Swank plays the daughter of a rich movie tycoon from Ireland, and looks close the the muredered Elizabeth Short, a.k.a., the Black Dhalia. Of course, our leading role for the Dhalia is played by the lovely Mia Kirschner.
The plot is not so much about the Dhalia herself, but is focused around the case rather than the death of the rising star. Short is portrayed as a character through her videos, and her videos truly bring yu the essence of who she was as a person, and what has lead to her untimley death. The movie is fictional of course, as it is well-known the case was unsolved, and stored away into the file. The description, and the death scene seemed to be accurate to that of the autopsy, and was portrayed as perhaps the most true esscene to this fictional tale.
"The Black Dhalia" is a relatively decent film. It as has all the makings to be a good drama/suspense film, but one thing lacked that made the "magic" lose its essence. Hartnett did a piss pour acting job as Officer Dwight "Bucky" Bleichert. During the one scene where he is mourning over his partner's death, I did not believe it was a serious cry of forlorning. Hartnett also was not playing the strong main character that we the audience needed him to be, and it truly made me look at my watch to see how much more time I needed to spend watching his attempts. He comes off strong...but leads into a weak attempt. I do not even give him an "E" effort.
Although a good theory was put forth into the film...the assailant comes out of nowhere, and is really another weak attempt to tie up the movie's loose ends. Director Brian De Palma known for an horde of great films really lets it go in this film. I would say all-in-all it is not worth the time to go see in theaters. If you want to find a movie to go see though...and if you have not already seen it I suggest to you Jackass Number Two. It was one of the funniest films I have seen in quite a while...and do not believe the bad karma that follows sequels, you can't make stupid look bad twice! Go see it, I promise you will laugh, or at least give a whole-hearty chuckle.