To know him is to understand him.

Rating: 8/10 (25 May 2005)

Martin Scorsese directs this biopic that peaks at the life/career of eccentric billionaire industrialist Howard Hughes(Leonardo DiCaprio). Beginning in the late 1920's to the mid 1940's Hughes directed movies, would test fly innovative aircraft of his own design and battle his physical disabilities. His life long phobias and his obsessive-compulsive disorder would cause him to exile himself from friends, lovers and business stalwarts. The world he once believed to own would become a secret world unto himself. Most interesting is his relationships with Katharine Hepburn(Cate Blanchett), Jean Harlow(Gwen Stefani)and Ava Gardner(Kate Beckinsale). Alan Alda plays Senator Ralph Owen Brewster. Jude Law is cast as Errol Flynn. Close business associate Noah Dietrich is played by John C. Reilly. Also in the cast are: Alec Baldwin, Willem DeFoe and Ian Holm. THE AVIATOR runs almost three hours and is well worth the time. Photographed and scored masterfully.