Long biopic, good Leo but great Cate

Rating: Null/10 (29 January 2009)

This is a long but fascinating take on the early life of the billionaire aviator, oil man and TWA owner Howard Hughes. Leo is fine in the lead although he looks too young, but its Cate Blanchett playing Katharine Hepburn who steals the show. She owns the screen whenever she makes an appearance and won a richly deserved Oscar. Kate Beckinsale is miscast as Ava Gardner. The rest of the cast are fine. The film takes a sympathetic view of Hughes as it depicts him fighting to control his sanity, even as he is being questioned by the Govt. for alleged improprieties. Some of the scenes detailing Hughes' Obsesive Compulsive condition go on too long and serve little purpose in the script.
Overall 7/10