The Aviator (2004)
Adam Scott, Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin
A biographical chronicle which charts the early years of famous tycoon, Howard Hughes (1905-1976), whose eclectic career spanned across everything from oil, for which he cared little, to film, casinos, and aviation--as he turned millions of dollars into billions.
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PG-13, 2 hrs. 35 min.
Directed by:
Martin Scorsese
Release Date: Dec 17, 2004
DVD Release Date: May 24, 2005
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I'm going to eat my words one by one. Chew them and swallow them slowly, they taste bitter... but here it comes, I called this movie "boring (chew), slow (double chew) and weak (triple chew), I just swallowed them. Now, this movie is GREAT! A friend ... (read more) I'm going to eat my words one by one. Chew them and swallow them slowly, they taste bitter... but here it comes, I called this movie "boring (chew), slow (double chew) and weak (triple chew), I just swallowed them. Now, this movie is GREAT! A friend of mine told me that I had to watch old school Hollywood movies for understanding the real meaning of this movie, and he has a point. Scorsese shows us that forgotten Hollywood, that Hollywood where quality wasn't left behind. Perfectionism, Glamor and Style. Yes, that Hollywood is long gone.
A decent biography, DeCaprio is characteristically good as Hughes, although Blanchett outshines him as Kate Hepburn. It's a shame that the opening scenes of Hughes' epic cinematic dogfights are repeated with poor quality CG, since the man himself did... (read more) A decent biography, DeCaprio is characteristically good as Hughes, although Blanchett outshines him as Kate Hepburn. It's a shame that the opening scenes of Hughes' epic cinematic dogfights are repeated with poor quality CG, since the man himself did better fifty years ago. The supporting cast is mostly excellent, although I can't take Alec Baldwin seriously.
Short review from when I first saw it in theaters:
Martin Scorsese's The Aviator is one of the year's more-hyped films and lives up to the majority of its hype. The hype is not as accurate as it was for Ray or Finding Neverland, but it was not as di... (read more) Short review from when I first saw it in theaters:
Martin Scorsese's The Aviator is one of the year's more-hyped films and lives up to the majority of its hype. The hype is not as accurate as it was for Ray or Finding Neverland, but it was not as disappointing as Closer.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as famed aviation conossieur and movie director Howard Hughes and pulls off the legend's quirks and obsessive compulsive disorder to a T. Cate Blanchett is also terrific as legendary actress Katharine Hepburn. Kate Beckinsale, as screen goddess Ava Gardner, was interesting, but not a very strong performance. John C. Reilly also gave a strong performance as Hughes' right-hand money man, Noah Dietrich. Garden State's Ian Holm is surprisingly good as a professor Hughes initially hires to help him with the production of Hell's Angels. Alan Alda and Alec Baldwin played the villains of the film, as, respectively, a Maine's Senator Ralph Owen Brewster, and Juan Trippe, President of Pan Am Air. Gwen Stefani's voice is near-unrecognizable as another screen goddess, Jean Harlow, star of Hughes' Hell's Angels. Jude Law, who has starred in a cavalcade of movies in the last four months, also cameos in a couple of scenes as legendary actor Errol Flynn.
Scorsese did a terrific job with the film, but it is unlikely that he'll finally get the Oscar for Best Director. Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby) and others are putting up pretty good competition for the award. Alfred Hitchcock never won a Best Director Oscar, and he is considered one of the best directors of all time, as is Scorsese. DiCaprio will likely be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar, but it is doubtful that he will win. Johnny Depp (Finding Neverland), Jamie Foxx (Ray) or Jim Carrey (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) will most likely win.
DiCaprio gives his most brilliant performance to date as the one and only Howard Hughes. Scorsese puts together an all star cast and as with the eccentric with Mr. Hughes this film soars high above the clouds. We follow Mr. Hughes throughout his life... (read more) DiCaprio gives his most brilliant performance to date as the one and only Howard Hughes. Scorsese puts together an all star cast and as with the eccentric with Mr. Hughes this film soars high above the clouds. We follow Mr. Hughes throughout his life, his many loves, his many endeavors, his many passions & all the while finding fighting his biggest enemy, himself. An outstanding performance by Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn which earned her a best supporting actor Oscar. 3 hours that goes by than most 2 hour films The Aviator should be on everyone's hit list.
Scorsese, you crazy bastard, if it weren't for "Taxi Driver", "Goodfellas" and "The Departed" I'd say that you have no idea how to tell a story. I mean that in the best way possible.
"The Aviator" is engrossing, and yet, like many Scorsese films, d... (read more) Scorsese, you crazy bastard, if it weren't for "Taxi Driver", "Goodfellas" and "The Departed" I'd say that you have no idea how to tell a story. I mean that in the best way possible.
"The Aviator" is engrossing, and yet, like many Scorsese films, doesn't really have a plot of any sort. Marty directs his actors, presides over a meticulous art and costume design department, and creates truly gorgeous visuals, but he's not particularly interested in crafting a tight narrative. Maybe that's because he finds that to be trite and uninteresting. And maybe he's right. But dammit is it hard to actually sit through this movie more than once.
That said, Cate Blanchett does turn in a stunning performance, and Leo is, well, he's Leo. That is to say he's fine as far as he goes, but the last time he actually lost himself in a role was back in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", or maybe "Titanic".
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the best actors in the world today- and this is probably his best performance ever. One of Scorsese's better recent flicks (nowhere near as good as The Departed though)
I was uninterested the in plane scenes, which simply dragged out the movie. Only the acting was interesting. Cate very well deserved her Oscar for this. Leo also deserved his nomination. This film would also have to be the only worthwhile performance... (read more) I was uninterested the in plane scenes, which simply dragged out the movie. Only the acting was interesting. Cate very well deserved her Oscar for this. Leo also deserved his nomination. This film would also have to be the only worthwhile performance from Kate Beckinsale.
Critic Reviews
Another of [Scorsese's] masterpieces, crowded with superb performances. It may be two and a half hours long, but it comes at you like a B-52 bomber, and it flies by.full review
While we leave the film without much more of an understanding of Hughes' legendary obsessions than we did upon entering, we nonetheless leave with a sense of having been glamorously, thoroughly entertained -- which, these days, is a rare pleasure.full review
What a sad man. What brief glory. What an enthralling film, 166 minutes, and it races past.full review
Few biopics with this kind of crazy scope have ever been so seamless.full review
It's stylish and fleet, and even though it's meticulously detailed, Scorsese's devotion to technique never weighs it down.full review
Scorsese's mournful celebration of Hughes's life from the 1920s to the late 1940s could be called Citizen Pain.full review
Martin Scorsese has recreated a glorious, Technicolor time. Oscar, Oscar.full review
Amongst contemporary American filmmakers, it can only be said perhaps of Martin Scorsese alone that a good movie from him is a disappointment.full review
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