Baby Faced Leo Flies High

Rating: Null/10 (22 January 2005)

The focus of attention naturally is on Leo DiCaprio but Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn steals the picture. A very ritzy lady indeed and I'm glad Spencer Tracy found her so wonderful for so many years. Now to be serious, DiCaprio does an EXCELLENT job as Howard Hughes but he is MISCAST. Even with a moustache, he looks like Hughes's son with a moustache. Even when Leo grows mean,ugly and disturbed in Hughes's later years, he still looks like a warped kid. Indeed, Leo is a very gifted actor but throughout the entire film he reminded me of Jack in "Titanic." Oh well, maybe I have a one track mind? The special effects are STUNNING. The color is STUNNING. The story is fascinating. It's going to cop many Oscars and maybe even one for the longest picture of the year however, although I can't pinpoint it,the film lacked that certain something to classify it as monumental. I classify it as a very good picture but NOT great by any means.