Review of Amelia (2009) by Jason L — 23 Nov 2010

I was looking forward to seeing this biopic about the famed Aviatrix Amelia Earhart (portrayed by Hilary Swank); the headstrong woman from Kansas who attempted to circumnavigate the globe by plane in 1932 and almost made it, disappearing on the penultimate leg of her journey. Unfortunately I was disappointed with what I saw. With a dull script and events unfolding at a grindingly slow pace it was nearly impossible to watch in its entirety and I was bored to drowsiness and outraged that anyone could make an exotic life of an adventurous character into such a snore-fest.

The film finally picks up at the time where Amelia while married to George Putnam (Richard Gere), begins an affair with a member of the Aeronautics Board (Ewan McGregor steals the show as Gene Vidal. Simply put, I thought he was sexy and quite a temptation for this American pioneer). I get the feeling they didn't really understand the person they were trying to depict, seeing her as a helpless female dependent on men in her quest for notoriety instead of the feminist pioneer who spent her life seeking adventure as she conquered new vistas.

Her fateful disappearance and her last flight remains shrouded in mystery so when the ending we all saw coming finally arrived, it was just that, the end of a story we already know, no less exciting after watching this uninspired portrayal of a woman who truly was inspirational.