HOLLYWOODLAND

RYAN: Most interestingly… In the length of the film “Hollywoodland,” not once do you see the Hollywood sign.

CAROLINE: Is that really what bothered you most about this film?

RYAN: Well, it didn’t bother me. I’m just noting it.

CAROLINE: (laughs) Fine. Duly noted.

RYAN: Why? Were you bothered by this film?

CAROLINE: No. I enjoyed it. Pretty good; good enough anyway.

RYAN: It may have to do with the mood I was in whilst viewing, but I liked it a lot.

CAROLINE: I definitely liked it. It was a decent way to kick off the fall movie season. But I think there will definitely be better movies to come.

RYAN: Most definitely.

CAROLINE: Everyone’s raving about Diane Lane, but I didn’t think she was all that.

RYAN: Oh, I thought she was fabulous! She reminded me of Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawfordish a little bit.

CAROLINE: Ok.

RYAN: And Adrien Brody gave a great performance. I even found myself randomly attracted to him. And he’s fugly.

CAROLINE: Oh Gawd.

RYAN: If he were not famous and you passed him on the street, you’d think he’s a fugly fellow. But he is an Oscar winner and there was a moment he looked hot in “Hollywoodland.”

CAROLINE: I’ve never liked him, I have to say.

RYAN: I don’t get the Oscar buzz around Ben Affleck.

CAROLINE: He won the best actor award at the Venice Film Festival for this movie.

RYAN: I’m so sick of actors being awarded for imitating real-life people. Imitating has to be less challenging than creating an original role.

CAROLINE: I thought Ben was good though. He had that smarmy 40s-actor vibe, right?

RYAN: Yeah he did. Fine. And he had a lot of material to look back and imitate.

CAROLINE: I liked his portrayal of George Reeves behind-the-scenes and his annoyance with his Superman role and such. I thought that was funny. And I loved the girl who played Ben Affleck’s fiancee, Robin Tunney. She was sultry and amazing.

RYAN: It’s true. I’ve loved here ever since “The Craft.” She’s awesome in this. Here’s the thing: If you don’t have interest in this story, or the story of a Hollywood unsolved mystery, you won’t dig it.

CAROLINE: I disagree. At first, after seeing the trailer, I went, “Ugh. Superman. Who cares?” And then I liked the movie. So there.

RYAN: I liked it too. But my mother called me right after she saw it and said, “That was the most boring movie I’ve ever seen.” So it’s not so universal.

CAROLINE: I thought it dragged at a few moments. They could have shaved some time off the movie.

RYAN: They could have easily lost about 10 – 15 minutes.

CAROLINE: Which is what we say about every movie we see. Bottom line?

RYAN: It’s very well edited, directed, acted. It’s a good choice among current movies.

CAROLINE: I wouldn’t say you have to see this one, though if you do, you’ll enjoy it just fine.