J. Edgar

Mini Review

http://jedgarmovie.warnerbros.com

J. Edgar is the story of the life of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The film is set at the start of his career with the FBI and focuses largely on his triumphs in the US justice system. The film also shines the spotlight on his personal life which until now has been overshadowed by the well known story of his success as one of America's most famous law enforcers. 

Let me start by saying that J. Edgar is not in any way the film I thought it was going to be. For your reference I have included the trailer to the film below. Watch it, then tell me if you get any inkling from this that the film is going to be a Brokeback Mountain for the US justice system. No? Me neither! Now don't get me wrong as I love Brokeback as much as the next person, actually I probably love it more due to my love of Jakey, but the trailer does not imply that this is the type of film you are going to see. So a bit of a hint might have been nice.

Having said all that I actually found that this was my favourite thing about the film. The more political and overly judicious elements were a tad boring so being able to see this other side to Hoover was nice. And it definitely made him seem more human. But all of the scenes depicting Hoover's relationship with Clyde Tolson, his protege and the man he makes assistant director of the FBI, are, as Wikipedia puts it "an examination of his private life as an alleged closeted (and chaste) homosexual." So in other words, they're a part of this 'true' story that might not be true. But the filmmakers have included them anyway just to spice things up.

In some ways it's worked as the story would be dull as dishwater without these scenes, but in other ways I do feel a bit deceived. Partly by the trailer and partly by the declaration that this is 'based on a true story'. That gripe aside I did think that it was a good showcase of the talent involved and was a surprising film for someone like Clint Eastwood to make. The only real let down was the awful prosthetic make up which literally made the actors look like they were wearing fat suits and dodgy rubber masks. Make up can be better than this people, see the below award if you don't believe me.

A definite must see for those with an interest in recent American history (although it might not be all that historically accurate), gay love stories or fans of the people involved. 7 out of 10.

NB - for fans of Gossip Girl you might be interested to see Chuck Bass himself - Ed Westwick - as Hoover's first biographer.

Viewing Date - 25th January 2012

UK Release Date - 20th January 2012

Cast Overview: 

Leonardo DiCaprio ~ J. Edgar Hoover

Armie Hammer ~ Clyde Tolson

Naomi Watts ~ Helen Gandy

Josh Lucas ~ Charles Lindbergh

Judi Dench ~ Anna Marie Hoover (Hoover's mother)

Jeffrey Donovan ~ Robert F Kennedy

Ed Westwick ~ Agent Smith - Hoover's biographer

Lea Thompson ~ Lela Rogers

Dermot Mulroney ~ Colonel Schwarzkopf

Director ~ Clint Eastwood

Writer ~ Dustin Lance Black

Hereafter

http://hereafter.warnerbros.com/

As I said on the Black Swan review (below), there are some films I know I will probably end up seeing even if the trailer doesn't particularly grab me. This is mainly because I'm an Unlimited Cineworld card holder and I go to the cinema a lot! It's also because I love movies and I particularly love watching movies at the cinema. You can keep your pirate DVD's coz I'd rather see a film the way it was meant to be seen, on the big screen.

Ok, ramble over. The reason I mention this is that Hereafter was a movie for which I saw the trailer but the trailer didn't really make me want to see the film. If you also felt that way I urge you *now* to ignore the trailer and go watch the film. It's directed by Clint Eastwood, who's only other directorial film I've seen is Million Dollar Baby. While I liked that movie it didn't inspire me to watch everything else Mr Eastwood had directed (or starred in). Hereafter is something entirely different.

The film is separated into 3 stories. The first story we encounter sees a French Journalist, Marie (Cecile De France), swept away by a Tsunami whilst on holiday (it's never confirmed but I assume this is meant to be the Indonesian Tsunami of Christmas 2004). Marie drowns but is resuscitated and retains memories of her brief encounter with what lies beyond. The second story is about twin brothers, Jason and Marcus, who live in London with their junkie/drunk single mother. Whilst running an errand one day, one of the boys - Jason - is killed in a car accident. His brother Marcus is left alone to deal with his mum, foster care and coming to terms with his brothers death. The third story centers on American factory worker George (Matt Damon). He's a psychic who's turned his back on his 'gift' believing it to be more of a curse. All 3 stories share the theme of death and it's effects on the living.

This might not sound like the cheeriest of films. I won't lie to you. It isn't. But it is thought provoking, well writen, insightfully directed and beautifully acted. One of the problems I had with the trailer (that put me off seeing the film) was the fact that it showed the star of the film to be Matt Damon. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Matt Damon. But I also don't own any of his movies. If you feel similarly let me re-assure you that although he is the biggest name amongst the actors, this is very much an ensemble cast and they are all faultless. Matt Damon included. I am happy to state now that when this DVD is released it will be my first purchase of a Matt Damon movie. My only criticism, cast wise, would be the underuse of Bryce Dallas Howard as I wish there'd been more of her character. This is only a minor criticism however as I don't think they could've made her role bigger without making major changes to the story. 

I was so surprised by this film on so many levels. How attached I got to the characters, how well the characters were established and not made into caricatures, how the stories all blended and each character had equal screen time to tell their story and finally, *SPOILER ALERT* how the moment when they finally all meet is believable and cleverly conceived when it could've so easily seemed contrived. 

I could go on all night (and nearly have!) about how good I thought this was and I really hope that my passion for the film will mean at least 1 other person goes to see it. Excellent 9 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 1st February 2011

UK Release Date - 28th January 2011

Cast Overview:

Matt Damon / George Lonegan

Cecile De France / Marie LeLay

Frankie and George McLaren / Marcus and Jason

Lyndsey Marshal / Jackie - Marcus and Jason's Mother

Thierry Neuvic / Didier - Marie's Lover

Bryce Dallas Howard / Melanie

Jay Mohr / Billy Lonegan - George's brother

Director ~ Clint Eastwood

Writer ~ Peter Morgan