"The Aviator," 2004
Summary: Leonardo DiCaprio's nasal Texas twang and Martin Scorsese's lush directing make this like a ride in a bi-plane at its best moments.
Thoughts: That this movie succeeded despite my aversion for DiCaprio is really saying a lot. I've generally thought he plays the same smooth, upstart-type in most of his movies (Titanic, Catch Me If You Can), but this is definitely a stretch for him. And the fact that he pulls off Howard Hughes with an Oscar-worthy performance without having every second of his performance scream "Give Me An Oscar" (see Will Smith in the bloated "Ali") is very admirable. He becomes the man, neuroses and all.
But what I liked best about this one was the all-encompassing love for all things aviation. I know, the film's called "The Aviator," not "The Neurotic, Reclusive, Womanizing Loony." But I just wasn't expecting to feel so caught up in the sequences when Hughes takes to the sky, especially that wham-bang crash scene. Maybe it's a guy thing, or an Icarian thing, but I dug it. It didn't move my emotions a whole lot, but this movie gets way closer to the sensation of flying than that "Soarin'" ride at Disney World.
Recap: Definitely worth a look, for high-flying adventure and spot-on period recreations (and Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn.)
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