STORYLINE: When his daughter vanishes from a Hollywood jazz club, a detective must battle mobsters, starlets, and his own demons to unearth the sinister truth lurking behind LA’s neon lights.  (IMDb)

   In the 1940’s through the 1960’s the film noir genre hit its peak.  It’s hard to argue when films such as Double Indemnity (1944), To Have and Have Not (1944), The Night of the Hunter (1953), and Cape Fear (1961).  Of course there’s been Chinatown (1974), Cape Fear (1991), and L. A. Confidential (1997) as well.  All are excellent films. Now there is Hollywood Grit.

    Let’s say this up front, Hollywood Grit is a very far cry from the brilliant films listed. It’s not in the sane league.  It does share the traits that are featured in the genre: the themes that feature moral ambiguity and crime of betrayal, cynical, antihero characters, and lighting that spot,ight the shadows.  

   Hollywood Grit’s story is pretty cookie cutter.  It didn’t wow me the way other stories with in the genre.  See the films listed for examples of stories that wowed me.

   At its heart Hollywood Grit is a popcorn flick.  It is fun, entertaining, and generally mindless.  If you are wanting to introduce the smart phone generation to the film noir genre this is the film to do so.  Of course, the thing to do is show the classics such as Chinatown, To Have and Have Not, and both Cape Fear features, as well.  Hollywood Grit is the diving board into the genre.  

    In the end Hollywood Grit is a middle of the road film.  

    Until next time o will see you at the movies!