June 16, 1959. The glamour of Tinseltown permanently fades for actor George Reeves, the heroic Man of Steel on TV's "Adventures of Superman," as the actor dies in his Hollywood Hills home. Felled by a single gunshot wound, Reeves leaves behind a fiancée--aspiring starlet Leonore Lemmon--and millions of fans who are shocked by his death. But it is his grieving mother, Helen Bessolo, who will not let the questionable circumstances surrounding his demise go unaddressed. Helen seeks justice, or at least answers. The Los Angeles Police Department closes the case, but Helen hires--for $50 a day--private detective Louis Simo. Simo soon ascertains that the torrid affair Reeves had with Toni Mannix, the wife of MGM studio executive Eddie Mannix, might hold the key to the truth. But truth and justice are not so easily found in Hollywood. Simo pursues dangerous and elusive leads in both high and low places and, in trying to turn up the heat, risks getting burned. The detective also uncovers unexpected connections to his own life as the case turns more personal and he learns more about Reeves himself. Behind the icon was a complex man who gave his life to Hollywood in more ways than one.

It would be almost impossible to fail at the telling of probably one of the more intriguing murders and mysteries to ever plague Hollywood. There is ways, not getting an actor that could pull of George Reeves and the turmoil the role Superman caused him but surprisingly enough Ben Affleck wears the red cape almost as well as Reeves did. So with the most important part of the story nailed down the movie is able to envelop you in its intrigue, it it’s mystery and in the end have you craving for more because just like in real life this mystery is unsolved and delving in deeper only leaves more questions that answers.

The movie takes an inside look at what it was like behind the cameras in one of the more popular television shows during the birth of TV. Its these little tidbits, George making sure his penis isn’t showing right before he goes on, to little kids attempting to test his invulnerability, that make the movie so interesting. You get a glimpse into a world that is supposed to perfect and is far from it. You get to watch as events unravel and people’s lives are changed forever, by money, by fame and by Hollywood. The murder mystery in itself is entertaining and enthralling but what makes the movie is the filler in between, the insights into George Reeves and the cost of fame.

Come next February we may hear some words that odds makers in Vegas wouldn’t have dared handicap just six months ago, and those words would be and the Best Actor in a lead performance goes to Ben Affleck. After spending the last few years as a late night talk show joke, Affleck turns in one of the finest performances of his career and if he is nominated and he does win what will come of Hollywood. I have never understood all the flack Affleck has received over the last few years, he has made some bad choices, Gigli and Surviving Christmas come to mind, but for the most part his movies are fun and enjoyable. He just has never really stretched his legs as an actor since Good Will Hunting instead preferring easy paychecks and easy roles but after Hollywoodland those might not be as easy as he has finally shown he has chops as an actor and he is not just another late night joke. Nobody questions Adrien Brody and that’s because he seems to take only good roles and this is another one of them and another fine performance by the fine actor. But this is Affleck’s movie and he delivers it with a skill many might not have known he had. It’s hard to not be drawn in by the mystery and death of the first Superman.

Grade: B+