Aviator soars with DiCaprio

January 31, 2005 —

The Aviator is the latest Martin Scorsese film, and one of the best movies of the year.

Aviator is a biographical film about filmmaker and aviator Howard Hughes, one of the richest men in recent history. Covering a period of time between the early 1930s and late 1940s, the film displays the growths and regressions of Hughes through great writing, acting, cinematography, and directing by Scorsese.

Younger audiences may not be familiar with Hughes, although they undoubtedly recognize the name. Aviator shows Mr. Hughes in an unforgiving and real light. This is not a movie that sugarcoats characters and events to make it appealing to a wider audience; the achievements Hughes made are given attention, but so are his faults and weaknesses.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Hughes) gives a fantastic performance in this film. While he is not at the level of the incomparable Robert DeNiro of Scorsese's earlier movies, he nonetheless is completely convincing in this role. Easily his best performance, DiCaprio does a particularly good job portraying Hughes as a man of great strength of character yet also great weakness. A bold and ambitious man at the very least, Hughes also suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder. DiCaprio never makes the transitions between these sides of the character unbelievable, and when in the depths of his disorder, it becomes chilling to watch.

The first section of the movie is focused largely on the production of Hughes' movie, Hell's Angels, which is covered in a manner befitting the grandeur of that film, with some visually stunning sequences. At the same time, we are introduced to his ingeniousness when it comes to creating new ideas for both the business and mechanical aspects of air travel.

As the plot moves forward, and multiple aspects of his life are revealed, we realize just how busy of a man he was. Involved in show business, the aviation business, and the romance business, Hughes had little time to himself. When he is alone, his obsessive-compulsive disorder becomes more obvious. At one point, he even stands inside a public restroom, afraid to touch the door handle to exit due to his paranoia. He only leaves when someone else enters, giving him the opportunity to slip through the door without touching it.

Scorsese has a knack for depicting how those who make great achievements are as vulnerable and powerless as anyone else in their relationships with the opposite sex. Hughes is involved with several women throughout the course of the movie, most notably Katharine Hepburn, who is portrayed by wonderfully by Cate Blanchett in a performance that seems to portray the eccentricity of Hepburn in an honest and accurate manner. Hughes depends on the women in his life both as lovers and as mother figures, as his physical health as well as his hygiene is restored by women in his life at different points in the film.

The last portion of the film shows Hughes fall into madness due to his mental illness.

Locking himself in a room for months, he creates elaborate plans for receiving his nourishment while avoiding contact with any humans.

While these events did take place, they are still hard to accept, and it is testament to how well crafted this film is that these sequences are entirely believable.

The Aviator is rather lengthy, but engrossing throughout its entirety.

Rare indeed is the movie in which everything comes together well: acting, story, cinematography, even the score.

The Aviator has no faults, and is highly recommended.