The Aviator

December 20, 2004

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Martin Scorsese directs the biography of multi-millionaire Howard Hughes in the spectacular drama, The Aviator. This film begins in the late 1920’s with Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) directing his first movie, Hell’s Angels. It takes Hughes twice as long – and twice the money – to make the film because he repeatedly insists on ideal conditions such as perfect cloud formations while shooting the aerial scenes. His reputation as a perfectionist director makes him an attraction to such beauties as Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale). I guess that explains why Hughes went into filmmaking. Hughes’ real love is aviation and the beginning of World War II compels him to help design the first planes able to fly at altitudes of twenty thousand feet and later, the gigantic wooden plane known as The Spruce Goose. Hughes also buys TWA and becomes embroiled in a nasty legal battle between Juan Trippe (Alec Baldwin), the president of Pan American Airlines and a crooked U.S. Senator. With all of these amazing accomplishments we also see Hughes frailties: paranoia, germ-phobia and obsessive compulsive disorder. I’ve heard that dating several women at one time can often produce some nasty side-effects. This is an exceptional film. It has fabulous costumes and music from the 30’s and 40’s, outstanding acting and superb directing by Martin Scorsese. What’s pleasantly surprising is that this is one of the few intellectual movies that also manages to entertain. I can easily see this film (so to speak) winning several Academy Awards. The Aviator is a great 3 hour ride (I had to say that) and I’m giving it an A rating.

This movie has been given a PG13 rating by the MPAA

Although I am blind, I can appreciate a good movie as well as sighted individuals.
I rely more on a good story line than special effects.