New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

A third scenario positions George’s disillusionment with his career as a possible motive for the suicide. After the Adventures of Superman, George quickly saw all of his other hopes evaporate. It wasn’t long before he was low on money and had to seriously consider taking on some wrestling work. It is clear that George is disenchanted by his current prospects and at that party George excuses himself from and heads upstairs with a look of sad resignation. In his room he takes out his gun and kills himself.

What the Movie Got Wrong

In Hollywoodland we learn that Reeves' career began promisingly in 1939 and we later see him in 1951. It seems to suggest that he struggled continuously for a decade but the fact is that he spent two years in the war and when he returned in 1945, many studios had slowed down production. Also contrary to the film, George’s career as Superman actually began with a film called Superman and the Mole Men.

During the shooting of the first episode we see Reeves - as Superman - attempt to take off in an alley suspended by wires. The wires snap and he falls to the ground, but that particular - and often repeated - sequence was shot by a stuntman. He did, however, suffer a similar accident later on during the show’s production.

Although the movie focuses prominently on George’s disillusionment with the role, it barely hints at the fact that he really did care about his young fans. Reeves took his status as role model very seriously.

During a public appearance a young fan wants to shoot Reeves with a loaded gun to see the bullet bounce off. George - noticeably shaken - explains that although the bullet wouldn’t hurt him it might bounce off and hit an innocent bystander. Although this is a very popular story and Reeves himself has repeated it, research has been unable to corroborate it.

Another popular story is that Reeves' scenes in From Here to Eternity were substantially cut because of how people reacted to him during a preview screening. Urban legend suggests that because Reeves had become too recognizable as Superman, people were unable to take him seriously in any other role. But the fact is that the film includes all of Reeves' scenes and no preview screening of the films were ever held.

A prominent character in Hollywoodland is a private investigator Luis Simo (Adrien Brody). The movie uses his investigation as a framing device. But Simo is a fictional character loosely based on an actual detective named Milo Speriglio.

The movie does not show the fact that the studio sought to find a replacement for George when it was clear he was not happy with the role. They actually tried to get Kirk Alyn, who had played the character in the original movie serials.

After the show is cancelled, we see Reeves barbecuing his costume as a way to celebrate the cancellation but the fact was that he did this after every season. The movie also depicts Leonore at the reading of his will. She is shown to be shocked that Reeves left everything to Toni. But since she was not mentioned in the will, she was not invited to the reading of it.

Verdict

Bolstered by a strong performance by Ben Affleck, Hollywoodland is a very entertaining and moving film. It not only shines a light on Reeves' life and untimely death, but it also depicts the darker side of following one’s dreams and the heartbreak and disappointment that it can lead to.

Although it has been suggested that Affleck’s somber portrayal doesn’t do justice to Reeves' charming and lighthearted personality, I would argue that it’s because the movie focuses on a darker and more solemn time in the actor’s life. Regardless, it is a great film that is respectful to both the actor and the character. It is a great treat to any Superman fan but one doesn’t need to know anything about the character to enjoy the film.

Next Time: October Sky

Continued:       1       2       3