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The Aviator: 5 reasons it disappoints.

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-Leonardo doesn't have the gravitas to play such a dominanting figure. He does a much better than expected job but he still has that boy/man thing. At times (the strongest) he looked and acted like he was imitating Benicio del Toro--who should have been cast in the part.
-Does anyone really care about Howard's love for K. Hepburn? Yeah, an interesting woman but an unattractive geek too convincingly played by the beautiful Blanchett. I felt I was watching a comedian do an interpretation---and a very long one. Hughes' affair w/the stunning Ava is much more interesting...but both the part and the actress were weak.
-The lightbulb-flashing thing and the deafness were overdone. Enough with the art school crap, already.
-The character actor who played Noah Dietrich ain't dominating enough.
-According to Scorcese, Hughes hardly broke a sweat working or studying, most definitely NOT the case. His many innovations were borne of his workaholism as well as his genius, both given short shrift.
-Hughes was notoriously shy among women and employed a squad of guys to approach women for him; the cigarette-seller scene rang absolutely falsely (and excessively crudely, as well).
-How can you make a movie about Hughes and completely neglect the Mormon Church???

Follow Ups:

"Tucker" (Dean Stockwell as HH) - RC 20:06:51 02/06/05 (1)
In the film Tucker:the man & his dream, Dean Stockwell has a small part as Howard Hughes giving advice to Preston Tucker. That small scene was more convincing as Hughes....than L. De caprio was in his entire role with Aviator.
Maybe D.Stockwell is too old now, but he coulda played that part much better than Leonardo De Caprio. Much, much more convincing.
Also: Hank Aziria
Billy Zane
Jude Law

Just a few that could've played better as HH.
Russ
- Re: "Tucker" (Dean Stockwell as HH) Great film! - grinagog 20:18:46 02/06/05 (0)
  The Tucker automobile used a modified flat-6 Hughes (Hughie) helicopter engine
  Dean Stockwell was indeed great as Hughes, tho' his was only a cameo role
  Grins
It's "Scorsese" to you, sir. - Harmonia 18:22:20 02/06/05 (0)
No "c".
I think the fourth act is a bit problematic, but I find the first 125 minutes to be bravura filmmaking. I loved The Aviator.
It's obvious you and I don't like the same kind of films.
I saw it last night... - mkuller 11:50:36 02/06/05 (4)
...and while I don't think it was the best picture of the year (Million Dollar Baby was), I don't agree with all of your criticism either.
DiCaprio was pretty good in the part and I agree with your boy/man comment, but Benicio Del Toro - come on - he's not even close.
Blanchett was very effective as Hepburn as was Beckinsale as Ava Gardner.
Hughes' genius was definitely not given short shrift.
The scene where his test plane crashes in Beverly Hills was very effectively done. A woman two seats down from me in the theater was about to come over the row in front of her, she was so distraught. I heard someone else crying in the seats above me.
And to the rest of your criticism, I say "artistic license" - who cares if it's completely accurate - overall I suspect the picture was accurate enough.
I predict Scorcese will win Best Director.
- Oh, c'mon. Best director? How many different scenes - tinear 13:20:31 02/06/05 (3)
  did we get those godawful cameras a poppin'?
  Go rent an Ava movie if you think Beckinsdale was even close.
  Del Toro is the strongest male lead in film, after Sean Penn. You give him short shrift: he would have been perfect (see 21 Grams and then Usual Suspects (and Traffic, as well) for a study in "range").
  I agree with one of your observations: the crash scene was masterful.
  Artistic license, btw, is fine, but if you're making a picture about a very well-known hero, you'd best stress his strong points---and the major influence on his business life (the Mormon Church).
  - A well known hero? - mkuller 19:35:19 02/06/05 (1)
    > but if you're making a picture about a very well-known hero, you'd best stress his strong points---and the major influence on his business life (the Mormon Church).>
    All I can say, Tin, is that you must be a lot older than I am to know Howard Hughes so well. The movie ended in 1947!
    - Well, I also know of Hill, Ford, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, - tinear 05:12:44 02/07/05 (0)
      DuPont, Mellon, and many others before my time...and none of them were the larger than life man Howard was.
      Best damn pilot (ok, one of them, then...) of his era; most successful businessman, in several fields, and generally considered the richest American of his generation (earned); Hollywood heavyweight who produced 2 Best Films.
      Add to that a well-known playboy with leading man looks and you have a legend. He certainly deserved better than Leo...
  - Re: Oh, c'mon. Best director? How many different scenes - PdL 17:03:25 02/06/05 (0)
    While I thought 21 Grams sucked, Del Toro was tremendous in both Traffic and Usual Suspects. I especially liked his speaking method in the latter, although the slurring made it difficult to understand what he was saying. His vocal style (and posture) really helped to define his character.
    I don't have high expectations for Beckensale as an actress, but she did look pretty good in the Aviator. While not exactly like AG, she wan't too hard on the eyes :-)

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