Very Worthwhile Movie

Rating: 8/10 (4 January 2005)

I mostly disagree with Peter-991's review of this movie. The Aviator was very good and well-acted and I do not think Leonardo DiCaprio was miscast at all; on the contrary, I thought he gave one of his best performances and may very well be on his way to an Academy Award for Best Actor. Howard Hughes is a complex and enigmatic character who must have been exceedingly difficult to portray. And one must remember that this film covers the early years of his life, so if the resemblance to Hughes doesn't kick in until the Senate hearings (with the mustache, etc...) then perhaps that's why. Also, the scene at the beginning with is mother was gross but very necessary to the plot. This shows the very foundation for his mental illness and the way she warped his mind against illness and germs through her dialog with him. I agree that Cate Blanchett was very effective as Katharine Hepburn and probably also deserves a Best Supporting Actress nod. However, I felt that Alan Alda, while good in the role, was simply being Hawkeye as an old man. I would recommend this movie as a very compelling look at a man who was brilliant yet also had some very heavy issues in his life.