The Aviator (2004)
Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale; Directed by Martin Scorsese
When his parents died and left him a fortune earned from their drill bit company, Howard Hughes had the means to do whatever he wanted. He chose first to make a film, quickly spreading a reputation amongst the entertainment community as a demanding and bold entrepreneur. This first endeavor created a pattern that Hughes would follow for the rest of his life. He continually pushed the limits of possibility, and put his career and fortune on the line several times, taking risks to make sure his dreams and goals were realized. All along the way, Hughes continually fought with a growing case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a condition that came to cripple him in more ways than one. Hughes’ charisma and accomplishments made it possible for him to begin traveling in different social circles. He became romantically involved with a slew of actresses, among them, Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner. He also found himself dining with corrupt senators and powerful chairmen. He always had the upper hand, always had an extra card up his sleeve, and always outsmarted everyone who tried to backstab him. This story is about a man who was able to overcome almost every obstacle that the world threw at him, being ultimately overwhelmed only by his own self, and the demons that he wasn’t able to conquer.
This was an immensely fascinating and entertaining biopic of one of the greatest industrialists and pioneers of the twentieth century. The casting was flawless. Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes was able to portray a man with so many complexities. He was a perfectionist, he could be a jerk, but he still had vulnerability. There is fear in his eyes every time he feels a spell coming on, but try as he might, he cannot fight it. He won’t stop scrubbing his hands until the soap draws blood. He will not eat his meal if the perfect alignment of his green peas has been disturbed. He is locked in a most ferocious inner battle, and this is one of the most difficult aspects of a character for an actor to portray.
It is no surprise that Mr. DiCaprio earned an Academy Award nomination for this role. The supporting roles are filled by so many A-list actors that it almost becomes a game to see who can put the most names to the all faces. Kate Beckinsale, Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, John C. Reilly, and Jude Law are a few. However, the spotlight of praise must be centered on Cate Blanchett, whose turn as Katharine Hepburn left me with my mouth hanging open in shock. There is a reason that she has since been catapulted to such heights of fame and achievement. There is a reason that she is now one of the most sought after actresses in the entertainment business. She is one of the hardest working talents out there, and she is a force to be reckoned with. One needs only to watch her performance in The Aviator to find out why. Hepburn is radiant and confident, but her emotions take a turn for the unexpected when she meets Hughes. He is a charming and intelligent companion, an adventurer who is able to rescue her from the emptiness of the Hollywood scene that she so detests. She takes him by surprise as well, more fiery and feisty than perhaps he had anticipated. A deeper side to her is revealed when she begins to see signs of Howard’s struggle against his frightening disorder. Instead of running from a bad situation that could only grow worse, she reveals herself as a steady stronghold that Howard can hold onto. Hepburn is a wonderfully colorful character who sweeps the audience up in her liveliness and heart, and only Cate Blanchett, who I believe to be one of our greatest actors living today, could have played her so well. The film lost most of its Oscar nominations to Clint Eastwoods’ Million Dollar Baby, but the Academy did manage to award Ms. Blanchett with a little golden bald man. Another stellar aspect of this film was the cinematography, particularly camera movement. There is a great scene where Hughes is testing the speed of a newly built plane, and we are taken along for the ride. This may not seem like anything extraordinary, but the way that Scorsese moves the camera makes you feel like you are rushing along at 100+ miles an hour with Hughes. It is a marvel that left me breathless in the theatre.
Although the film excels in nearly every area, I believe that the character of Howard Hughes somewhat failed to inspire true compassion in the audience. The film doesn’t tug at the heartstrings as well as it could have. And maybe we’re not necessarily meant to like Hughes, but a main character that we fail to care a lot about is perhaps subject to a loss of interest. Hughes never redeems himself from any of the wrongs he had done to others. He never seems to change his pig-headed ways or grow as a human being, and what can we benefit from a story like his? There are so many contradictions that any suggested moral theme fails to stick. You might say “triumph of the will!”, but Hughes’ will became corrupted by his arrogance and mental disability. “Reach for your dreams!”, but this too falls flat when you consider that Hughes sometimes achieved his desires by throwing money at problems or resorting to underhanded dealings. One thing or another marred each success. It is an interesting tale, but what is the moral? This element is the critical foundation stone of any good project, and I’m not sure that even Mr. Scorsese could convince you that it really had one.
Story = A- Originality = A DVD Extras = B+
Acting = A+ Enjoyability = A
Visuals = A Overall Grade = A
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