The Black Dahlia murder of 1947 is one of the most enduring unsolved mysteries of all time. It has all the elements of the grittiest pulp fiction: Tinseltown dreams, strange starlets, mannish molls, nouveau riche Hollywood royalty, and a murder so gruesome the gory details still resonate today.

This big-screen adaptation of James Ellroy's hard-boiled mystery has a hard time boiling down all the characters, crimes, corruption and cover-ups, and it ends up convoluted and overcooked--albeit lushly lensed. Director Brian De Palma pushes the pic's tone too far, especially in the last act, allowing the bizarre revelations and over-the-top performances to veer into camp territory.

i happen to be a fan of period pieces and this is a really great way to spend two hours. i loved this super entertaining who-dun-it.