Scorsese’s ‘Aviator’ soars over ordinary biopic fare

Phil Witte is assistant city editor at the Glendale News-Press and

Leader.

It goes without saying that the more interesting life a person has

led, the more interesting the biopic will be. By those standards,

Howard Hughes, as interpreted by Martin Scorsese in “The Aviator,”

accomplished enough to fill three films. Scorsese and his Hughes

(Leonardo DiCaprio) pull just enough from his monumental life to give

a fully realized portrait of this intriguing and contradictory

figure.

Blessed with a fortune from birth, Hughes dreamed of great things

-- directing the biggest movies, flying the fastest planes and dating

the most beautiful women. Traits like that indicate megalomania, but

Hughes was so wrapped in idiosyncrasies and mental hang-ups that at

times he was unable to hold simple conversations. Early in his life

those things were mere impediments to his dreams; it wasn’t until

later in life they turned him into a Kleenex-wearing agoraphobe.

For his part, DiCaprio channels Hughes, bringing alive a man beset

by demons, and not as some walking facial tic as he could have been

portrayed. Though in my mind’s eye I always thought Hughes to be

taller, DiCaprio’s performance shows both the good and bad in his

subject.

Whether it was his intermittent charisma or the confidence that

immeasurable wealth gave him, Hughes attracted the heavenliest of

Hollywood beauties, notable Jean Harlow, Ava Gardner and Katharine

Hepburn. As Hepburn, Cate Blanchett does better than just mimic the

famous accent and mannerisms, she brings her alive in a wonderful

performance that brightens the movie in every scene she is in. She is

so good, in fact, that the film is not as dynamic once she’s made her

exit to take up with Spencer Tracy.

One who doesn’t measure up is Kate Beckinsale as Gardner, who sees

Hughes through the onset of his becoming overrun by his demons, but

we never really see what connects these two, as we did with Hughes

and Hepburn. The film does touch on Hughes’ attachment to too-young

girls, but this was a man used to buying whatever he wanted.

“Aviator” is full of excellent performances in the smaller roles,

including Alec Baldwin and Hughes’ business rival Juan Trippe, John

C. Reilly as business manager Noah Dietrich, and Alan Alda as Sen.

Ralph Brewster. Most due recognition though is to Ian Holm, who

delights even with the limited screen time he gets as

meteorologist/brassiere expert Professor Fitz.

At this point in his career, Scorsese can direct a film like this

in his sleep. The film flows smoothly, and Scorsese picks events at

each point in Hughes life to better illuminate his overall character.

“Aviator” offers a complete portrait of a complicated man, showing

him at his greatest without idolizing him, and showing him at his

weakest without mocking him. Of course, were Hughes to see it, he

would probably think they were all out to get him anyway.

“The Aviator” is Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual

content, nudity, language and a crash sequence.

*If you would like to join our Reel Critics panel and be

reimbursed for seeing a movie, call entertainment editor Joyce

Rudolph at (818) 637-3241.