Spectacular Effects, Beautiful Sets, Fine Acting, Yet Lacks Heart

Rating: Null/10 (31 January 2005)

The Aviator,helmed by legendary Martin Scorsese, had so much going for it: spectacular visual effects, wonderful costuming and set design, and extraordinary acting from Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett. And you would think that a film that has all the elements OF a great film would also have something that The Aviator unfortunately lacks: heart.
The film opens with Howard Hughes as a child, his mother bathing him and telling him how dangerous the world is. It then cuts to Howard Hughes in his twenties, on the set of Hell's Angels where it is immediately apparent just how powerful this young playboy's drive is. He wants absolute perfection at his craft, which is making a realistic and believable film about war and combat, which he succeeds at. His peers do not take hi seriously, however, because of his age and his somewhat childish look on things. Howard Hughes begins the film young and powerful, an by the end, has aged and started to let his infatuation for cleanliness and germs to wither him away to just an obsessive compulsive loner who locks himself in his office for months at a time.
Leonardo DiCaprio has never been a more finer actor, taking his boyish features and completely transforming himself into Howard Hughes. Every gesture, the accent, his compulsiveness, it is amazing just how wonderful Leonardo has evolved from the pretty faced boy in Titanic to serious Hollywood actor in The Aviator. Not to mention, the chemistry he and Cate Blanchett had on screen jelled, bringing Hepburn's strong will and Hughes's dependence on that to function.
Cat Blanchett was, not to say the least, amazing at recreating a legendary Hollywood icon, playing the part of Kathrine Hepburn to a tee. It was quite apparent that a lot of research by Blanchett was done to perfect all of Hepburn's little mannerisms, and larger than life character. Blanchett is in much need of an Oscar for her portrayal in the film, for it is nothing short of amazing.
The sets and costumes were extraordinary, to watch The Aviator is a trip down memory lane for older generations and an eye opening educational venture for the younger generations. The Hollywood premieres that were recreated, the legendary actresses such as Ava Gardner, it gives a sense of longing for the golden years of Hollywood before everything became so commercialized. There are spectacular camera shots throughout the film such as the flight of the Spruce Goose, the filming of the air battles in Hell's Angels, and the spectacular plane crash in Beverly Hills. All these make for one adventurous film.
Yet, with all these elements going for it, The Aviator really lacks heart. Though the first half of the film, Howard Hughes is at the top of his game, and the audience is entertained, yet kept far away enough where they will not really care that Hughes is slowly letting his OCD take over his life. At a nearly three hour run time, by the end of the film when Hughes's has finally completed his decent into madness you may be fidgeting and squirming from boredom. Martin Scorsese put together the life of Howard Hughes, yet kept him emotionally far way enough from the audience that they are more an observer of Hughes than actually caring for him. And that was the biggest problem of the film. Great films have characters you deeply care for, and that is all that prevents The Aviator from being that: Greatness.
Come Oscar night, there is no doubt that The Aviator will walk away with some awards, that is a given. The Aviator is recommended for it's stunning recreation of old Hollywood, the pioneering of aviation, and the incredible acting by DiCaprio and Blanchett. Unfortunately, by the end, you may be fidgeting, waiting for the film to finally end.
Recommended.
MJR