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DVD : The Aviator (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Rating: - Scorsese Illuminates Hughes' Enigma, DiCaprio Grows...
This 2004 Howard Hughes biopic stands out amongst the best biographical pictures of the last 10 years. Although not as gritty and intense as Scorsese's greatest film "Raging Bull" (1980), this picture is well-crafted and sleek. The life and times of the enigmatic Howard Hughes make for compelling subject matter and Socorsese's effort does not disappoint.

Those of us Scorsese fans that look upon his work as commercially defiant, and nuanced towards sophisticated viewers have witnessed a gradual, relentless modifying of his technique toward a wider demographic. This evolution of Scorcese's once radical film-making style towards a more commercial, big budget approach is natural and expected given the increasing commercial success of each successive Scorsese film, (not to mention major studio desire to release the next potential Scorsese classic i.e. "GoodFellas"). These changes in style and presentation are also closely linked to the diverse screenplays and proliferation of new A-list talent (such as Mr. DiCaprio) headlining Scorsese's recent pictures. Given these considerations, "The Aviator" still manages to showcase quite a few original Scorsese sequences recalling his raw and intensely personal early films.

Howard Hughes was a filmmaker as well as an aviator and it's no surprise that the chaotic production of Hughes first film ,1930's "Hell's Angels" (which Scorsese clearly admires) is chronicled in detail at the outset of the movie. We witness the continuous nervous energy and persistent drive of Hughes to achieve his daring goals, all the while breaking new ground in aviation, film and big business. This film closely tracks Hughes' personal life as well, his well-publicized affairs with famous starlets of the day such as Katherine Hepburn (played well by Cate Blanchett) are illustrated in-depth with notable performances throughout.

Leonardo DiCaprio continues to grow and develop under Scorsese's direction, and the development is phenomenal to witness. Beginning with "Gangs Of New York" (2002) and continuing beyond this movie (2006's masterful "The Departed"), DiCaprio's acting chops are sharpening with each performance, eclipsing his previous work and establishing his talent amongst Hollywood's A-List actors. As the Hughes character, DiCaprio is able to captivate and compel us with flashes of OCD symptoms and manic behavior to the extreme, all the while struggling to balance these chaotic forces with his public and managerial personas. A fascinating example of this balancing act occurs when Hughes is confronted with a ruthless public relations attack, designed to coerce him into selling his airline TWA to his commercial competitor, Pan Am (whose chief, Juan Trippe is played by Alec Baldwin). Hughes collects his faculties and battles back with impressive vigor, this after nearly dying in a spectacular crash of his XF-11 spy plane prototype. All of these events unfold beautifully and the rhythm of this film holds our attention despite the nearly 3 hour running time.

"The Aviator" holds up well on repeat viewings despite the long running time, it covers the entire first half of Hughe's remarkable life and career, and a second feature could easily be written detailing Hughes' subsequent years in Las Vegas and his premature death. All in all, DiCaprio's growth as an actor cannot be understated, this is a must-see performance!

Rating: - A movie smaller than the subject
The Howard Hughes story is huge - he inherrited wealth as a teen, while the world thought he was blowing it, he drove innovation in film and aviation. Along the way his personal eccentricities and dalliances with Hollywood stars were the stuff of legend - and gossip pages.

Despite almost 3 hours of footage, the Aviator fails to capture the bigness of Howard Hughes. One is left with only a partial story of one of the century's giants - a glimpse of a playboy with vision. Unfortunately Howard Hughes was so much more. Perhaps 3 hours was too long for shortened version, and too long for a mini-series that wouldn't sell. Either way, the reader is simultaneously left bored and wanting more.

Perhaps the acting is what saved the movie? Even those who don't like Dicaprio can agree he lost himself in the role. Balwin plays a role easy to him - a villian you can quickly hate. Even Alan Alda manages to shed Hawkeye for the role.

In summary, it just isn't worth the 3 hours when there's so many other good movies out there.

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Rating: - A grand story that manages to be intimate at the same time; a solid "A" and a potential classic
On one level, this is an interesting and convincing period piece about the times in which Hughes lived and his remarkable accomplishments. I didn't fully catch onto the filmmakers' ultimate intent though until I watched it a second time: that is, the gravity of obsessive-compulsive disorder in Hughes' life. I greatly enjoyed the film the first time I saw it but it wasn't until that second viewing that I realized the power and grittiness of the story they were trying to tell and, for me, the "classic" status it should/will receive. The source music really helps set the period and the score by Howard Shore is truly exceptional. My respect for DiCaprio grew tremendously as well - both for his actual performance and after learning more about his passion for wanting to put this story onscreen and all the work he went to and interest he took in the project. I don't like using the word "epic" and often avoid so-called stories that are, but 'The Aviator' is a grand one that has a tone all of its own due to the focus on Hughes' determination and achievements in face of mounting external struggles and even more overwhelming internal ones.

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Rating: - The Aviator.
This movie sucks. I don't know what they were trying to do,but it didn't work.The acting was OK, but the plot and the way it was presented was really bad. I'm glad they were cheap, I gave it away. No wonder you didn't hear much about this movie.

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Rating: - Not thought provoking, just GREAT FUN
The AVIATOR for me was a load of fun. As someone born in the 50s this movie shows how much fun it must have been to live in the first half of the 20th century and have money. DiCaprio does a fine job portraying Howard HUGHES, a true visionary who was afflicted with mental illnesses that, at the time, were never publicly discussed. The movie does not gloss over his eccentricities but fully addresses his unhealthy preoccupation with germs and other compulsive bahaviors. It even spends time at the beginning of the movie to show his childhood where his mother planted the seeds of his anxieties.

Cate Blanchett does a fine job in her portrayal of Katherine HEPBURN who had a love affair with HUGHES'S before she met Spencer TRACY. Also we see hollywood in it's heyday with appearances by Louie B. MAYER, Ava GARDNER, Jean HARLOW and Errol FLYNN (played by Jude Law) among others. Alan ALDA capably plays a cowardly and corrupt senator standing in the way of HUGHES'S business intentions. The movie is nothing to speak of as a great thought provoking experience. It is what it is- a very entertaining look at Mr. HUGHES life (with some very fine flying sequences thrown in).

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