The Aviator

The Aviator (2004) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, and Alan Alda.

Before...with the amount of hype and awards it garnered I was really looking forward to seeing this film. The thing that made me nervous about this film was the length...could Leo keep me captivated for that long...could a story about a guy I'd never heard of keep me interested...only one way to find out let's watch it!!

Focusing on his early years (from the 1930 production of 'Hell's Angels' to the 1947 test flight of the Blue Spruce, when he was 42), this is the story of how young Howard Hughes transformed a small fortune into a massive one. The son of the Texan inventor of an amazing drill bit who died when he was 18, leaving him with 75% of the "Hughes Tool Co.", Howard Hughes (DiCaprio) quickly moved to Los Angeles to become a Hollywood film producer, where he helped launch the career of Jean Harlow and other starlets, and producing such classics as Hell's Angels, The Front Page, Flying Leathernecks, and Scarface (the 1932 original), eventually owning RKO Pictures. Hughes' legend came not from focusing on just Hollywood, however, as he simultaneously branched into industry after industry, including aviation in 1932 (including TWA Airlines), and during WWII, defense, leading to the creation of the (infamous) Spruce Goose, a flying boat of immense size. After WWII, Hughes' expansions continued, with an electronics company that was integral to the evolution of the satellite, and Hughes' several Las Vegas casinos (though this film may be ending before he moves there). This film will also focus on Hughes' romances with Hollywood stars like Katharine Hepburn (Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Beckinsale). (Baldwin plays the president of their competitor, Pan Am and Alda plays the senator trying to publically humiliate him)

My wife's view..."First time I watched it I was bored, but this time I could follow what was going on a little bit easier. Charming acting from the ladies, excellent acting from DiCaprio and that's what really makes it. Interesting story, but my husband tells me it's not quite how it happened in real life. Not a date movie. If you are gonna watch it, watch it twice! ★★★★☆

Where to start...First things first, Leonardo DiCaprio in this film is incredible. He is on screen practically from start to finish and at no point did I tire of him. DiCaprio is truly an incredible actor, and from seeing him in this and also The Departed he is becoming one of my favourite actors. Really looking forward to Shutter Island coming out at the start of 2010, trailer looks great!

The other actors around him do amazingly as well. All simply boosting his performances into the stratosphere, which is what supporting actors should do...all of them do this amazingly...all except Cate Blanchett. Blanchett, instead of taking the supporting actor role, seems to have decided to fight it out with Leo as to who is the better actor. When on screen together they both are fantastic. As Hepburn, Blanchett is stunning, not only does she look like her but also she acts near to exactly what she was like, simply incredible!!

Aside from that the plot of the film is great, though since researching about Hughes they seem to have missed out a few seemingly key facts, like that he was initially married. It leaves you feeling that maybe they Hollywoodised his life just that bit too much, which I can't understand why. For me it seems that Howard Hughes' life is so fantastical that no embellishment is needed. Ah well, maybe that's just my problem. All in all because of that I am going to give it...

★★★★☆