The Black Dahlia

In 1947, the mutilated body of Hollywood wannabe Elizabeth Short was found in a vacant Los Angeles lot. Despite recent evidence that points to a prominent doctor, the legendary crime remains unsolved to this day.

But the gruesome murder is used merely as a backdrop in The Black Dahlia. In fact, her rather shady exploits seem thrown in as an afterthought. Rather than focusing on the actual investigation, the film follows the love triangle of two detectives (Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart) and the latter’s girlfriend (Scarlett Johansson). A strangely affected Hilary Swank also appears as an heiress who may or may not know something about the killing. And Canadian singer K.D. Lang makes a cameo as a crooner in a lesbian bar.

Despite frantic direction by Brian DePalma and music that tries to heighten the tension (of which there is little), we learn virtually nothing about the motivation behind the characters’ bizarre actions. Even the moody set design and rain-soaked streets cannot invigorate the plodding developments.

It is well known that the Los Angeles Police Department of the era was highly corrupt, which novelist James Ellroy used to great effect in L.A. Confidential. But so many subplots are woven into The Black Dahlia that the film gets bogged down and the proceedings become hard to follow. It is no wonder none of the principals give inspired performances -- they probably didn’t understand the material. And the voiceover by Hartnett, impossibly poetic for a gumshoe, quickly becomes annoying.

While the movie does try to satisfy viewers by identifying a killer in the climax, the audience just doesn’t care by then.

Whether the real Elizabeth Short was a sinner or a saint, her memory deserves better than this convoluted and boring effort. Rating: 3 out of 10.