Don't get caught up in the glamour; this story has meaning

Rating: 10/10 (26 June 2005)

Although the emphasis for this story seems to be on the great successes and failures of Howard Hughes, don't get caught up in that. Whoever did research on the personal life of Mr. Hughes had great insight, and I commend writer John Logan for taking this story to a deeper level. He does this through the relationships of the main characters; Howard Hughes/Leonardo DiCaprio; Katharine Hepburn/Cate Blanchett; and, Ava Gardner/Kate Beckinsale. Through these relationships we see what is really going on with the main character. And although some of the scenes may be anecdotal or not based on fact, they probably represent some form of the truth when we search for what really drove Howard Hughes in his pursuits.
If you think that this story only happens to the famous and wealthy, or that it can only happen if you become famous or wealthy, you are not being objective and you are limiting your point of view. Watch the opening scene carefully. It provides a clue to the underlying theme of this story, and the last scene ties the whole story together. In screen writing lingo, that's called providing the story with good bookends.
Even Martin Scorsese was attracted to the story by its opening scene. He has said that when he began reading the script, he did not know what the story was about and became interested in it upon reading the opening scene. If you watch closely, you will see how the main character's view of the world seems to be laid down by his experience from this opening scene. As he grows older, the dialogue that he repeats to himself over and over (internally and externally) seems to rule his perception of life.
That perception is what ultimately blocks any chance of a relationship he might have with women. Whether that relationship is with a cigarette girl or with the famous movie stars of his time, they are all disasters. The only exception (at least in this story) seems to come from the relationship with Ava Gardner/Kate Beckinsale. They both befriend one another by standing up for themselves and what they want out of their relationship while still supporting each other in their strengths. That is called getting real. And what better way to face life's challenges.