Agonizing!!

Rating: 1/10 (27 January 2005)

I can often judge a movie by how often I look at my watch. This was a "4 plusser". The first time was only an hour into it; I could have sworn I'd been there for several days. The movie was filled with so many anachronisms that I lost all respect for it early on. You'd think that Hollywood would have a better sense of its own history. (Also,is it utterly impossible to find a zaftig blonde anywhere in Hollywood to play Harlowe? I think the answer in the land of bulimia is "no".) I found the colors garish, the dialog plodding, the pacing tortuous. And where on earth did the costume designer dig up those hats for the Ava Gardner character - from an old Kathryn Grayson musical? When the characters were attempting to discuss the technicalities of their aeronautical work they were about as convincing as junior high school kids making an adventure video. It was obvious that they were saying the words but had no idea of their meaning. Poor Ian Holm was the only one deliberately playing confused. And what was the purpose of his character other than comic relief? I suppose DiCaprio will garner awards for playing a crazy person, which seems to guarantee a performer kudos (see Rush and Jolie among others.) I think those critics who raved about this movie, which will no doubt win the Oscar for Scorsese, should wait a few months and then go see it again, this time with their eyes and ears open and some strong coffee at hand. Remember "Titanic", guys?