“The Aviator” (Miramax Pictures)
If ever there was a legendary character it was Howard Hughes. He was a man who inspired awe in the minds of all who knew him or knew of him. Yet he was an eccentric who bordered on obsessive behavior which later in his life toppled over into insanity. In “The Aviator” Director Martin Scorcese has captured the years of his twenties and thirties, and with actor Leonardo Di Caprio has created a fully entertaining portrait of the man and his fixations.
When the film opens Hughes is spending his family fortune making the movie “Hell’s Angels.” He is determined to make the best movie ever seen and he will spare no expense to get it done. He also gets involved with courting Katherine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett), a unique woman who is as daring as he.
Later he locks horns with Juan Trippe (Alec Baldwin) the head of Pan American Airlines who has a monopoly on all the overseas routes for air traffic. Trippe and a corrupt senator named Ralph Owen Brewster (Alan Alda) are united in their contempt for Hughes and are determined to destroy him and his upstart airline (TWA).
All of the battles and romances in Hughes life and of this era are explored in detail. In addition to Hepburn, Hughes was also involved with Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale). She too was an independent female who was less than cowed by Hughes money and power.
The performance by DiCaprio as Hughes is amazing. This is his most mature performance to date and it is an exceptionally fine piece of acting. He captures the heart and soul of Hughes and makes him a fairly reasonable individual if not completely understandable.
Blanchett’s work as Hepburn is also praise-worthy. In a lesser actress’ hands this would have been a caricature, but Blanchett gets inside Kate’s skin and makes her live. She has her voice and mannerisms down to perfection.
As Gardner, Beckinsale is not quite as successful. She certainly looks great but she never captures the smoldering essence of this actress. John C O’Reilly is wasted as Hughes’ business manager, Noah Deitrich. Baldwin has some good moments as Trippe and Alda is superb as the villainous senator.
The film is rated pG-13 for profanity and violence.
This is Martin Scorcese’s tour de force and may finally bring him the Academy Award that has long eluded him. He captures the heart of Howard Hughes and puts it on film. Using DiCaprio’s talents like a palette he paints a total picture of the man and his obsessions, be they airplanes or women.
I scored “The Aviator” a flying 8 out of 10.
