From Deseret News archives:
Aviator, The
Film review
Of course, the same probably could have been said of the title character, Howard Hughes, whose various scandals and eccentricities have become the stuff of legend (including local legend).
Never one to shy away from such things, however, filmmaker Martin Scorsese and screenwriter John Logan have tried to show us what the real Hughes was like, warts and all that is, eccentricities and all, including his various phobias and paranoid behavior. But the film occasionally strays dangerously close to campy "Mommie Dearest" territory.
As its title suggests, "The Aviator" examines Hughes' various air-travel ventures, but the film also delves into his relationships with several Hollywood actresses, among them Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett), Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), Jean Harlow (Gwen Stefani) and Faith Demergue (Kelli Garner). And at least the first third of the film deals with his years-long battle to mount his epic World War I drama "Hell's Angels," even though the film the most expensive of its time nearly bankrupted the young Texas industrialist.
This is a very different film than Scorsese's previous effort, "Gangs of New York," but the filmmaker seems to have been equally obsessed with nailing the look of the depicted time periods (as well as the color scheme of clothing and filmmaking at the time).
But he's so consumed by these details that the storytelling sometimes suffers. "The Aviator" feels a bit incoherent and extremely unfocused not to slight cinematographer Robert Richardson, who is one of the film's real stars. So it's fortunate that Scorsese cast Leonardo DiCaprio, whose performances in this film and "Catch Me If You Can" demonstrate his range, and that he can be credible in more adult roles. And Blanchett puts in such a serious bid to steal the movie out from under him that having her star in a three-hour "Katharine Hepburn Story" might have been more welcome.
For the most part the supporting cast is consigned to cameos, some of which are too distracting. Jude Law's brief stint as Errol Flynn only pads out an already-too-long film.
"The Aviator" is rated PG-13 for profanity, violence (some fisticuffs, as well as a horrific plane crash), gore, vulgarity, brief male nudity, brief sexual contact and use of some racial epithets. Running time: 169 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alan Alda
Find a Movie Theater
- Inmate sent anthrax to state officials 1:09 p.m.
- Mitchell compared to Ervil LeBaron 1:06 p.m.
- Chechen rebels claim train bombing 1:00 p.m.
- UN welcomes US plan for Afghanistan 12:59 p.m.
- Taliban: Surge means more deaths 12:58 p.m.
- Pittsburgh mystery letters revealed 12:47 p.m.
- Kansas shooting toll at 4 12:43 p.m.
- New details in Roy double slaying 12:41 p.m.
- Stocks waver after jobs report 12:40 p.m.
- Woods crash did $3,200 damage 12:39 p.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
- Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett
- BCS just keeps dirty laundry on spin
- Find joy in life, Bishop Burton says
- Orem pair getting a rep for crime
- Simple candies for the holidays
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
909 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
483 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
404 - Max Hall issues apology
388 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
355 - Utes won't respond to Hall
276 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
241 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
167 - Religion in politics is tiresome
149 - BYU is champion of the state
144
This is about American national security, not an open-ended nation-building...
Where are the Logan State fans now who professed that the WAC was better than...
12:33 p.m. Conservatives are NOT against helping the poor. They are just...
"...but met at EnergySolutions Arena last year, a 68-83 BYU win." Actually,...
to norland,im a huge coug homer but your comments re cougartown were pretty...
One thing is for certain about Barack Obama - the man is a "tax-a-holic"....
Hopefully, people are paying way more attention to how they are being...
We see only two pictures, neither of which shows the Y victim whose...
Congratulations Lori, also congratulations to Lori's Mom, Brighton High's...
as a vistor to your state, i am impressed by the basketball fans response to...





You can be the first to comment on this story.