Grand Theft Oscar: Scorsese gets robbed again

Rating: 8/10 (25 February 2008)

The Academy must have had it in for Martin Scorsese. How could someone amass a resume that includes Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas (among others) and still not wrangle a Best Director or Best Picture Oscar? Here he delivered his best film since Goodfellas only to get stiffed yet again. (Luckily, he finally broke through a couple of years later with The Departed.)
I knew very little about Howard Hughes before watching this film. I think that one of the things that makes this a good biopic is that it made me want to learn more about the man. It was quite interesting to see how Hughes's obsessive nature was a double-edged sword, spurring him on while crippling him mentally.
As far as I'm concerned, this is Leonardo DiCaprio's best performance to date. The entire supporting cast is talented but DiCaprio is in another league altogether. Cate Blanchett also gives a stand-out performance, garnering a well-deserved Oscar for her portrayal of Katherine Hepburn.
Scorsese's direction is impeccable, as expected, but the art department deserves special mention. The film landed Oscars for art direction, costume design and cinematography, all of which were well-deserved. The film really takes you back to a time and place, namely '20's to '40's Hollywood.
I can't understand why this film isn't appreciated more. Perhaps the downbeat subject matter has something to do with it. Personally, I love the ending with its mixture of triumph and tragedy. Hopefully, with the passage of time this film will not be unduly overshadowed by Scorsese's other fine films.