Certainly a BIG movie, but NOT necessarily a GREAT movie

Rating: Null/10 (17 February 2005)

Just like Gangs of New York, The Aviator is another of Scorsese's attempt at an epic movie. The two movies even started out in exactly the same way, a close-up shot of an object (shaver in one; soap and towel in the other) against a background of a mellow, rich, orange-brown hue. Into Gangs of New York Scorsese poured his passion for the title city, which is featured just as prominently as the characters in the story. The Aviator, lacking the drive from such passion, came out the weaker of the two. Obviously, legendary Howard Hughes, with all his eccentricities and charisma, fascinates the audience. Whether he can elicit much empathy from them, however, is another matter.
Rather than a biopic (as the movie stops short of Hughes' declining years), The Aviator comes across more like a cross sectional exploration into Hughes' character. Linking the various cross sections are three consistent themes: his passion for aviation, his obsession with cleanliness and his involvement with Hollywood.
As underpinned by the title, Hughes is first and foremost the aviator. That is why the movie ends with his triumphantly taking the mega plane Hercules into the air.
The very first and last shots in the movie, however, have been devoted to Hughe's eccentric obsession: beginning with his mother bathing him, as a boy, warning him about germs and teaching him the word "quarantine", and ending in a relapse of his obsessive-compulsive disorder triggered by the recurring paranoia. However, it is interesting to note that these obsessions seem to be selective. Hughes is clearly not bothered by the close contact with Katharine Hepburn when he teaches her to fly a plane, nor by sharing an ice cream with Faith Domergue. In fact, the former scene is place immediately after one in which he reacts vehemently to having a few peas from his plate picked up by Errol Flynn. One can't help but wonder if there's an intended message here.
The third theme, his link with Hollywood, is seen in his relationship with various women - two big stars Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner plus a parade of starlets. Hughes is portrayed in these relationships as flamboyant, at time callous and insensitive, and even juvenile. But then there must have been redeeming qualities in the man because at his lowest point, in his self-imposed quarantine in a screening room, both women come to help - one his once had and lost (Hepburn); the other he never had (Gardner).
The most favorable portrayal of Hughes in this movie is in the congressional hearings scene close to the end, because we all love an underdog, even if the underdog is a billionaire. Who can resist applauding a little poetic justice, as outspoken Hughes just about turns a hearing of his alleged war-profiteering around into an enquiry into the corruption of Senator Ralph Owen Brewster who was bought by Hughes' arch competitor Juan Trippe.
Leonardo DiCaprio handles well the various facets of this complicated man, except for the greatness (a limited definition of "greatness" in this context). Cate Blanchett, as Hepburn, is magnificent and wonderful as always. Beautiful Kate Beckinsale plays beautiful Ava Gardner beautifully. Prolific C. Reilly (he was in BOTH New York Gangs and Chicago) proves once again that he is worth the price, as Hughes' loyal aids. Alec Baldwin is a convincingly ruthless Pan Am chief. Good old Alan Alda (from the good old M.A.S.H.) demonstrates that his vintage gets better with aging, as we see him as the venomously sly Senator. For eye-opening cameos we have Judd Law as Flynn and Willem Dafoe as the newspaperman forced to sell back compromising Hepburn/Tracy photos of by Hughes' McCarthism threats (a weapon that works when all else have failed). And don't forget Ian Holm's (Bilbo) portrayal of the lovable Professor Fitz.
Incidentally, pitched against Chicago in the Oscar contest two years ago, Gangs of New York scored a blank out against the former's six, as I put in my summary line for my comments no the 75th Award Show: "Bears 6; Giants 0". It will be interesting to see in a week's time if a similar fate awaits The Aviator.