great movie. it was haunting especially since the murder was based on fact and the killer was never caught (although it was possibly the notorious torso murderer).
Smoke me a kipper. I'll be back for breakfast

I don't "love" the film, and considering it was Brian De Palma, it was a little disappointing. However, it was still a good movie, and after reading the novel, I'm amazed at how much better the film is. If you found the plot elements difficult to follow in the movie, don't even attempt the book. It's a complete convoluted mess - a mess which De Palma tinkered with to make a much more straightforward story for the film.

Hahahahaha! I'm that way for both Johansson and Swank. My Lord, if there was any more of them in the film, I wouldn't have been able to contain myself. Hahahahaha!

You're not alone judging by all the comments to your post, not by a longshot. I absolutely
loved
this film. There are a few things that could have been improved, but as a whole I enjoyed it hugely, and not just because I drool like a mastiff for Josh Hartnett.
I'm only in Show Biz by injection

Around 19 thousand people gave this movie a score of 7-10 and 2 thousand gave it a 10. It is a great thriller with lots of great scenes, I never understood why people would listen to critics instead of having their own tastes, unless they don't have them, another reason for fashion. I'm more than confident that the rating will only get higher for this movie, somewhere around 10-20 years.

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I just noticed the same thing (in my 5th or 6th time watching this film, which I absolutely loved). The fact is that in the 40s and 50s, virtually
everybody
smoked. The health consequences weren't even an issue. There were "doctors" doing cigarette commercials.
I'm only in Show Biz by injection

I loved it. It's easily one of the best movies De Palma's done. His films are guilty pleasures for me. This was 9/10 for me and Passion was 8/10.

I like Josh Hartnett, and I like a lot of dePalma films, but this one sent me to sleep, (and the tobacco product-placement was outrageous, did anyone take a breath of actual air in this movie?)
But you ARE Blanche and I AM.

No you are not. While problems are evident, it's definitely better than its reputation in my eyes, certainly coming at it from a film noir lover's perspective it has much to laud.
But minority we shall be. Ho-Hum.
The
Spikeopath

Hospital Number
217

I didn't like it excactly but I thought it was somewhat ok. The visuals were nice, the acting was good and the actors were fitting (especially Hartnett and Johansson fitted really well in my book). However the plot is in my opinion a mess. It's not as ununderstandable as people make it to be but there is no focus whatsoever. Sub-plots emerge, fade into the background, suddenly reemerge without remotely enough background. I get that it tried to cover multiple themes but none of them really did it and that's a shame because it really has it's moments. For instance the B/W clips of Elisabeth are a wonderful way to interact with the cops (and Mia Kirshner does a great job). It's just as exploiting as some of De Palma's other movies manage to be., peeping really is one of his favorite themes and he has a hand for it. But I think ultimately it falls flat because of the lacking focus. I've read that there was a different cut that Elroy himself enjoyed but it seems like it was altered (by the studio I think) before release. If they had released the original version this might have actually been really good, who knows.
You see things; and you say Why? But I dream things that never were and I say Why not?

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!

The film wasn't
that
bad, I don't understand all the hate. In fact i've seen worse movies.
Break the rules and in a couple of years you will have a hell of a story to tell.

I enjoyed it, a good movie though not a great one .
Not as good as L.A.confidential .
And yes the plot was very confusing.
Nitpicks,Bucky was too "pretty" to be convincing as a boxer or even a cop, and his non stop anger got very boring .

This is a damn good movie; a few mild flaws here and there, but great and memorable flick overall! The ending is haunting and I love how it plays like a 40's film-noir with a modern edge. I also like the blend of fact and fiction; the two are mixed just about perfectly! All the criticisms I've seen so far just seem like a bunch of meaningless nip-picks that are thrown out there because, evidently, it's a sin to like any de Palma movie that isn't 'Scarface'.

I gave it a 9. I really like it.
Plot Hole - the most overused and least understood phrase at IMDb

You are not alone. The minute Scarlett Johanssen entered the frame, I was hooked. Hilary Swank camped it up - another good thing. For those who did not get it, too bad. For people comparing Black Dahlia with Scarface, two different creatures. It is like comparing Please, Please Me with Sgt. Pepper's LHCB, totally two different animals. It is film noir going through De Palma's filter and it is a good thing.

I liked and I think the reason is I never expected anything from it. When I saw back in 2006 when it came out I never knew who Brian DePalma was, I "saw" scarface years before to even understand whats what. I saw the Untouchables was later.
Did it feel noir to me - absolutely. I think this was the reason I like that film. I actually watched it in the same week as I watched Hollywoodland. The acting maybe was over done in some parts and too pushed. The story line might have made no sense to some people - but then again it was Brian's interpretation of that murder case. I liked it more than I liked Untouchables.

i remember seeing the movie in theaters and thought that it was pretty good. sure, there are parts that seem to drag too long, but overall it was an entertaining movie.

know what this film has that L.A.confidential doesn't? an interesting plot.

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I watched it for a second time and felt a little better. ..good movie!
An undeserved bad rap?
probably
shall grow old as I am,
if like a crab you could
walk backward."

I really like the movie (7,5/10). The book is far better though !

I enjoyed it. Although it was very bizarre at times, but's something I could watch again. It was complex and visually perfect. Good movie, and I would ive it more than the 5/10 it got on this site.
Josh Hartnett wasn't that great in his rolebut whatever.
"Contempt loves the silence, it thrives in the dark" -Merchant