Brilliant

Rating: 7/10 (7 August 2008)

The Aviator is amazing biopic about one of America's most famous figures, Howard Hughes, during his most exciting, innovative and formulative years in the 1920s to 1940s. During this period he was obsessively involved in first making a film and later Aviation, the biggest love of his life, where he faces opposition from a PanAm chief(Alec Baldwin) and a corrupt and power hungry Senator (Alan Alda). As well, his own Daredevil behaviour, unwavering idealism, brash decisions, and constantly growing Obessive Compulsive Disorder and Germaphobia throughout the film threaten to derail him.
'The film is the shortest and most captivating 170 minute film I've ever seen. The screenplay, the editing and the sheer determination of the filmmakers in capturing this exceptional man on the screen make it a wonderfully gripping experience. It excels in every department, from design and FX to Howard Shore's great score.' Martins decision to imitate two strip technicolour (blue) for half the film is also interesting and looks great. Its a period piece that actually manages to portray the period perfectly,a historical epic, biopic that doesn't forget to engage the audience with heart and humour.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Howard Hughes and while he doesn't look like Hughes (and doesn't "age" well, At All), he manages to portray Hughes charm, arrogance, mannerisms, obsessions, recklessness and "madness" almost perfectly. However he is equally matched by Cate Blanchett in her Oscar winning role as actress Katherine Hepburn. Every Actor in the film is brilliant, though some are underused such as John C. Reilly.
Overall this was a great and very enjoyable film. It has its faults but films that try to portray larger then life people always do. 8.5 out of 10