Exceptionally acted... but not Scorsese's best.

Rating: 8/10 (30 January 2005)

'The Aviator' is an unusual film in the sense that it features the life of an unusual man. Howard Hughes, a pioneer in the history of aviation and cinema, two completely different fields. It is good that the movie showed enough of his contribution in the history of the former, as the name suggested. A movie meant as a biopic becomes an eye-candy the credit for which should not only go to the filmmakers but also the character Howard Hughes himself. Smart-looking planes, beautiful actresses of that time and also that plane crash in Beverly Hills sequence... all because of him. And it becomes perfect for a moviegoer when such a good plot comes with good acting.
It is indeed quite a treat to see all the good actors performing so well altogether. Leonardo DiCaprio is simply awesome. At first it appeared to me he is somehow miscast as Howard Hughes, perhaps because he doesn't just look like him. But his acting was so wonderful that I can't think of anyone right now that could replace him. He definitely deserves his Oscar this time. The changes of Hughes' character with time is brilliantly portrayed, with some scenes where Leonardo proves his mastery like the days inside the hotel room or the last shot of Senate hearing or "Show me all the blueprints". Apart from him, 'The Aviator' is also Cate Blanchett's best work. Her appearance was perfect for Katharine Hepburn and she got the accent big time. She just defeated her works in 'Veronica Guerine' or 'Elizabeth'. John Reilly is good as always, so was Kate Beckinsale. I actually would love to see Scarlett Johansson as Ava Gardner but Kate is okay. Alec Baldwin and Alan Alda, however, are not upto that level. And oh yes, as long as we're speaking about acting, let's not forget the brilliant cameo by Jude Law as Eroll Flynn.
The point is, all these decent performances by the actors could not make it the best film of the year. 'Aviator' has got a number of problems. The movie is nearly three hours long and it loses track in the middle. The first hour of the movie is very good and interconnected. But after that it just became a collection of separate events glued together. 'Aviator' was never meant to be a documentary film with actors. But that's what it became in the end. Personally I think the film aspect of Hughes' life should have been shown more, along with the aviation aspect of course. Sometimes it appeared filled with too much detailing and unnecessary shots like the opening scene or that scene of urinating in the bottles etc. As a director, Scorsese could not surpass his earlier works like 'Raging Bull' or 'Taxi Driver' or even 'Gangs of New York' with this one. Interesting and unexpected plot twists or showing violence in a simple careless manner, what were his trademark, are absent here. As he didn't get his Oscar from the said three films, I highly doubt he will make it this time. On the other hand, Eastwood has done a hell of a work with 'Million Dollar Baby'.
My rating: 8/10