Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
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In 1976, Howard Hughes died a reclusive billionaire. For the last two decades, very little is known of his life. Not surprising as Hughes had bought himself a room which he never left. In fact, so changed was his appearance at his death fingerprints had to be taken to confirm his identity. Yet prior to this, Hughes was renowned as a dynamic moviemaker, aviator and playboy.
So what happened to cause Hughes to withdraw from society and his famous lifestyle? “The Aviator” is a biographical look Hughes dramatic life highlighting some of his achievements and disasters illustrating the impact these had on Hughes. The film hints (oh so well) at Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Toretts Syndrome through a combination of superb filming, perceptive acting and an astute script.
The film opens with a flashback of Hughes as a young boy being gently washed clean by his mother whilst she warns him about a cholera epidemic and the necessity of cleanliness to forestall infection making the young boy spell out the word quarantine as he is washed. This scene chillingly foreshadows his famous fear of germs.
The film then takes a leap into the 1930s, a period in which Hughes (played by Leonard DiCaprio)
is at his most successful and ambitious. The young man, driven by his duel passions of movies and flying, is directing his third film “Hell’s Angels” about World War I aviators, which he also wrote. A perfectionist, the film cost Hughes 3.8 million dollars to make. Whilst filming “Hell’s Angels”, Hughes got his pilot's license fulfilling a personal goal to become an aviator himself. His resultant move into the design and construction of an aircraft, capable of carrying 700 people with a 320ft wingspan and a weight of 400,000 pounds, leads him once more into the critical public spotlight.
"The Aviator" directed by Martin Scorsese is a period film depicting Hughes as he moves between the glamorous Hollywood party scenes, the aircraft industry and his joy of flying and the lonely rooms. Scorsese is at his best with each scene insightful into both the eras and industries in which they were set. But perhaps the greatest asset to his directing is his compassion and understanding approach to the man who was Howard Hughes.
Leonardo DiCaprio is convincing in his portrayal of Hughes’ mental anguishes. He shows Hughes desperately trying to publicly hide his compulsions to avoid and to wash away the contamination of everyday life juxtaposed with his private despairs.
The film features some of the rising actresses with whom Hughes’ name was linked. There is Jean Harlow played by Gwen Stefani and Ava Gardner played by Kate Beckinsale. Both who give fantastic and believable performances. But by far the greatest in the film has to be Cate Blanchett’s representation of Katharine Hepburn. She has the voice and mannerisms to perfection! This witty and touching relationship provides some light relieve into the film.
Others in the star-filled cast combine to make this a brilliantly acted film. John C. Reilly plays Hughes’ loyal and protective employee, Noah Dietrich. Ian Holm plays a reserved meteorologist. Alec Baldwin plays Pan-American Airways CEO Juan Trippe and is exquisite as a delightfully suave villain. Alan Alda plays a solemn Senator Ralph Owen Brewster and there is an all-too-brief appearance of Jude Law as the dashing Errol Flynn.
Cinematographer, Robert Richardson, is exceptional with depictions of numerous flying scenes. There is a horrific crash scene in which the plane’s wing slices through Beverley Hill’s houses and end in flames. The digital recreation of two and three-strip Technicolor processes give a realist impression of filmmaking.
Director, Martin Scorsese, manages to show Hughes journey into compulsive behavior and paranoia whilst keeping a focus on the on his creative and innovative qualities.
Writer, John Logan manages to give an essence of the splendor and excitement of Howard Hughes whilst instilling an image of his conflicting and debilitating emotions.
Composer, Howard Shore, has created a film score that takes us upwards with the thrilling air-flights and highs of the film yet provides tremendous tensions. The movement, "Icarus", a particularly powerful orchestral portrayal of the heady accomplishment of flight. In complete contrast is the depressive movement, "Quarantine", reflects the darker side of Howard Hughes’ life.
However, it has to be said, that as a biopic some important and pivotal events in this period of Hughes life are glossed over or omitted including his marriage and his addiction to morphine following the plane crash.
“The Aviator” was released by Miramax and is rated 13 for some sexual content, nudity, language and the horrific crash sequence.
The film is captivating. It gives a glimpse into the brilliance that Howard Hughes was capable of. It provides an insight into the beginnings of Howard Hughes retreat into isolation and mental illness. The film lasts for 166 minutes - time well spent.
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Advantages: Some outstanding performances, excellent visually, like the usual Scorsese epic Disadvantages: Di Caprio got weaker in the lead role as the film went on, half an hour too long, poor ending
Andy.mack 06.04.2005 ·
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Review of The Aviator (DVD)
Advantages: Excellent acting, script, soundtrack, directing, everything! Disadvantages: A bit too long, somethings not really developed enough for my liking
dreamkin 12.01.2005 (13.01.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Aviator (DVD)
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