Two cops, Lee Blanchard (
Aaron Eckhart) and Bucky Bleichert (
Josh Hartnett), are called to investigate the homicide of ambitious silver screen B-lister Betty Ann Short (
Mia Kirshner), A.K.A. "The Black Dahlia"—an attack so grisly that images of the killing were kept from the public.
While Blanchard's growing preoccupation with the sensational murder threatens his marriage to Kay (
Scarlett Johansson), his partner Bleichert finds himself attracted to the enigmatic Madeleine Linscott (
Hilary Swank), the daughter of one of the city's most prominent families--who just happens to have an unsavory connection to the murder victim.
Based on the best-selling crime novel by James Ellroy.
Canadian Connection: Actress
Mia Kirshner was born in Toronto, Ontario.
The majority of the movie had nothing to do with the case.
although very well acted, the movie lacked spark and the storyline was a little difficult to follow - De Palma, as usual, forgets to let the story tell itself adn seems wrapped up in making the pic look pretty