Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder has it's positive side.

Rating: Null/10 (8 November 2005)

"The Aviator" (2004): I don't know a lot about Howard Hughes, and I truly hope that this film played it straight with historybecause it is a fascinating story, and I'd rather it be accurate. (Oliver Stone DIDN'T make it, Martin Scorcese did, so there IS a better chance it honors the truth!) We've ALL heard about Hughes' final, reclusive, CRAZY years, but "The Aviator" covers the majority of his years before he lost himself to what I'm sure would now be labeled "Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder". The story immediately takes a peek at his childhood, where an important issue is clarified, and we then dive right into his start with aviation. We see his mind working 1,000 miles per hour, flying in 4 directions at a time, and NEVER shooting down ideas. He gambles everything, often, and fights for what he gets. He's no namby-pamby rich boy. You have to admire him, even if you DON'T want to be in his hire. Leonardo DiCaprio does a fine job, as does Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, Ian Holm, Gwen Stefani, and Alec Baldwin. The dirty business of politics & payoffs is covered, but so is the glorious, imaginative efforts of Hughes and his engineers. Special effects are excellent, photography is exciting, dialog always interesting, sets & costumes rich with era, scoring greatit's all-around solid character study, and recreation of an era that is worth another look. If you liked the film "Tucker", I can assure you "The Aviator" will do nothing but top it, which is quite a compliment.