J. Edgar

"Very Good"

J. Edgar Review


Exquisitely designed and directed, with finely tuned performances that shine even through some heavy make-up, this true story never quite succeeds in conveying its central relationship. Sure, repression is the point, but passion would have made the film heartbreaking rather than just sad.

John Edgar Hoover (DiCaprio) was only 29 when he became director of the Bureau of Investigation (later the FBI), and he ruled supreme until his death in 1972, holding eight US presidents in the palm of his hand with his notorious files of personal secrets. But he also had loyal friends, including his secretary Helen (Watts) and his right-hand man Clyde (Hammer). As a young man, his mother (Dench) instilled in him a hatred of liberalism and homosexuality, so his enemies included Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy (Donovan) and himself.

Black's script focusses on just two decades: the 1930s and the 1960s. And this structure cleverly shows the man's steadfast tenacity and refusal to be distracted from his earnest quest to cleanup the country. Arguably the most powerful American of the 20th century, Hoover was also a deeply closeted homosexual who, as portrayed here, never accepted the truth about himself or his real feelings toward Clyde. This self-loathing led to increasing paranoia as he subverted the law with extortion and dirty counter-intelligence operations.

The film's true heart is Clyde, his longed-for lover. But we're more than an hour in before this begins to emerge. Events are recounted in lively, entertaining ways, from the Lindbergh kidnapping to the Kennedy assassination, but we can tell there's a bigger issue gurgling under the surface. And while the script continually touches on it, Eastwood seems to shy away truly confronting the elephant in the room. Clearly this is intentional, depicting Hoover's relentless refusal to violate his mother's relief that her son isn't a "daffodil".

But surging passion, however submerged, would engage us much more acutely.

DiCaprio and Hammer are terrific, even managing to show some pathos in their awkward geriatric make-up (why not have 60-something actors play the older men?). Watts and Dench are solid but sidelined, while a parade of strong cameos keeps things colourful even with virtually monochromatic, but still eye-catching, production design. It's a striking portrait of a man who had all the power in the world, yet never actually lived his own life. And without any real emotional connection, it's depressing rather than moving.



J. Edgar

Facts and Figures

Run time: 137 mins

In Theaters: Friday 11th November 2011

Box Office USA: $37.3M

Box Office Worldwide: $37.3M

Budget: $35M

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Production compaines: Imagine Entertainment, Malpaso Productions, Wintergreen Productions

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 3.5 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 43%
Fresh: 95 Rotten: 125

IMDB: 6.6 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director:

Starring: as J. Edgar Hoover, as Mitchell Palmer, as Helen Gandy, as Robert Irwin, as Anna Marie Hoover, as Dwight Eisenhower, as Palmer's Daughter, as Walter Lyle, as Clyde Tolson, as Agent Smith, as Emma Goldman, as Charles Lindbergh, as Colonel Schwarzkopf, as Albert Osborne, as Lela Rogers, as Edgar's Niece

Contactmusic


Links


New Movies

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago,...

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Like the 2015 original, this comedy plays merrily with cliches to tell a silly story...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

There's a somewhat contrived jauntiness to this blending of fact and fiction that may leave...

Ferdinand Movie Review

Ferdinand Movie Review

This animated comedy adventure is based on the beloved children's book, which was published in...

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Director Dave McCary makes a superb feature debut with this offbeat black comedy, which explores...

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

A dramatisation of the real-life clash between tennis icons Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs,...

Shot Caller Movie Review

Shot Caller Movie Review

There isn't much subtlety to this prison thriller, but it's edgy enough to hold the...

Advertisement
The Disaster Artist Movie Review

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

A hilariously outrageous story based on real events, this film recounts the making of the...

Stronger Movie Review

Stronger Movie Review

Based on a true story about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this looks like one...

Only the Brave Movie Review

Only the Brave Movie Review

Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its...

Wonder Movie Review

Wonder Movie Review

This film may be based on RJ Palacio's fictional bestseller, but it approaches its story...

Happy End  Movie Review

Happy End Movie Review

Austrian auteur Michael Haneke isn't known for his light touch, but rather for hard-hitting, award-winning...

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

A Victorian thriller with rather heavy echoes of Jack the Ripper, this film struggles to...

Advertisement
Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews