The idea of making a movie biography is to offer the world in general, film
audiences in the case of "J. Edgar," insight into the hidden world of a public
figure. Clint Eastwood could make a good movie with topics dealing with Hoover's
personal life or career / public persona - and, yet, he chose not to.
Thus, the story with as much dramatic potential of this, a project with
talent to boot (Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Jude Dench,
Eastwood himself) and a lot of interest from viewers, nearly succeeded in
scratching the surface.
"J. Edgar" the goal of becoming the story of the
director, famous controversial from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the man
that took place at the helm for more than four decades, under eight different
presidents, witnessed some of the most life-changing events in American history.
A man was cold and calculated, Hoover generated as much press for his
life as he did then - but none of the controversy, debate, fire transpires in
the way Eastwood tells her story.
In the script by Oscar-winner Dustin
Black ("Milk"), "J. Edgar" kicks off in 1919, when Hoover, an ambitious young
man, very intelligent and somewhat paranoid, newly appointed head of the
intelligence division called the Bureau of Investigation - year only later would
become Federal.
He will remain a director of the FBI until his death
in 1972, literally became, according to many, one of the most powerful men in
the U.S., mainly due to a stack of files he is sure to create a secret to
everyone and anyone he considered a potential enemy or threat.
Alternating between film flashbacks and present scenes, take a small or
a giant leap to and fro - a technique that is most needed given the large amount
of time and most importantly, to cover the event.
Each period is easily
distinguished by the tone and, of course, hair and makeup DiCaprio. The reason
why they were chosen somewhat confusing because the film fails to explain the
relevance of some in conjunction with others.
Armie Hammer is Clyde
Tolson, the FBI agent tall, charming and seems completely enamored Hoover ended
as a sidekick, a close colleague and trust to the end.
Another addition
is remarkable for throwing is that Dame Judi Dench as Hoover's mother: he
describes the religious fanatics with grandiose ideas of grandeur he hopes to
see reality through his son that will, hopefully, restore long-forgotten family
to a state of grace.
He's tight, tense and royal. He is also the force
behind many decisions Hoover in the early years.
Naomi Watts is Helen
Gandy, a young secretary and life to whom Hoover proposed the third date, in
what may seem like playing games but proved cold-blooded calculation. He settles
instead for a lifetime of loyal personal assistant.
Fourth is
the only constant in the plotline that stretches to include the most remarkable
events in American history, from anarchist bombings in 1919, Lindbergh
kidnapping (also called a "crime of the century") and how to shape the future of
the FBI, the Communist scare, the making of the cult FBI agents, the JFK
assassination and the creation of a secret, very damaging to personal files.
Remarkably, throughout it all, Hoover has not changed: either for better
or worse, which is rather impossible in real life.
As mentioned above,
"J. Edgar" could play either way: it can describe the personal lives of Hoover,
or can have a better look at public persona and how he came to be a president
even feared.
In the first case, should get into the specifics of alleged
gay relationship with his Clyde, reported on his cross-dressing and his social
awkwardness, the struggle to be herself, a gay, now, openly, he is a racist and
homophobe.
In the latter, "J. Edgar" could offer insight into the
gripping story of a strong man and he cut corners to be one, how it shapes the
history and types of ideas that motivated him to do the things he did, some of
them are controversial to this day may be afraid to be offended, Eastwood chose
to do both in the film. The overall impression is that he simply chose more or
less random facts, put them in front of an audience and then left the room.
Script, filled at times with some of the most cringe-worthy cliches,
stubbornly refused to do anything, even the smallest detail, as if Hoover was
not skin and bones, but the wax statue, obviously, bears only a resemblance of
life.
Critics agree that, while the intent and purpose of "J. Edgar" is
nothing short of amazing, it fails in execution - not necessarily because of
lack of means to do so, but because it has no expertise.
Edgar "runs for
137 minutes and has seen limited release in the United States in November 2011.
Now playing in theaters throughout Europe, and will conclude its run in Hong
Kong on February 2 and Turkey on March 2, 2012.
Good
As with every
other Clint Eastwood films, the settings used are astonishing: a man has an eye
for such things, from cars, costumes, attitudes, with light and music that goes
with it.
DiCaprio is convincing as Hoover, although his accent grates a
bit at the beginning, as well as Hammer, although many may believe he is not
going to challenge.
Watts is interesting and on-point as usual, though
underutilized.
The Bad
Edgar "collapsed under the weight of the
structure itself, after several valiant attempts to make stick. In the end,
rather it seems, is a propeller narcissistic pet project of Eastwood from a
proper biopic.
Makeup is bad: on DiCaprio, appears acceptable, although
certain scenes require more emotion to make it clear that it is a mask and he
was trapped in it. Hammer and Watts' although it is funny, which raises
questions about why the distinction is made in the first place.
Truth
Edgar "do not waste time or a bad movie unless you think about how
positively amazing and wonderful it could have been a little more effort. In the
end, what ruins the experience not many flaws, but the realization that so much
potential that has been wasted .
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