THE AVIATOR (2004)

SHORT REVIEW: One of the best films in a past couple of years. Although that is not claiming too much, I mean it as a compliment… honest. I doubt I am the only who thought when the film cutie-pie Leonardo DiCaprio steped on screen for the first time “What the heck, this guy is Howard Hughes?” This guy was one step away from being a darn Backstreet Boy for Pete’s sake! I have to admit the pin-up pulls it off. I didn’t want to have to say that. To be honest with you, I was chomping at the bit to go after this guy. Now I’m left shaking my head, grudgingly giving the man his due. DiCaprio presents in Hughes a driven and deeply pained man. DiCaprio along with director Martin Scorsese express the fright and frustration that come with mental illness. To show this through a genius who lived a life of adventure and innovation is a high task. They pull it off. Everything that you may heard about Cate Blachett’s performance is true. This woman can act. Even if everything else in the film were horrible, her performance would still make it worth seeing. Speaking of the film. It does go on for a while. It is long, but I don’t see how Scorsese could have cut it back. This is a grand film about a very big personality. It has the scope it needs to tell the story and it tells that story brilliantly. This is more than worth the rental. This one is good enough to own. Categories: film, movie review, The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, Horward Hughes