Review of J. Edgar (2011) by Chad D — 03 Nov 2013

In addition to the synopsis listed on this site, Hoover was a great American who served his entire adult life in the service of the United States. Unfortunately, he was also a pioneer of Federal Supremacy and non-transparent government.

A detailed study of history can excuse the latter to the extent that the threats our Republic has faced in the last 100 years are by definition existential threats. In light of these threats it has become commonly accepted practice that the public does not "need to know" everything that transpires in the persecution thereof (it would be interesting to solicit Hoover's opinion of our current threats and the NSA fiasco from beyond the grave).

Hoover was a master of this and this point was made repeatedly throughout the movie. That being said, the risk of such a national policy is to have a national history clouded by the ambiguities which must so naturally result by there not being a common, universally accepted historical record that can be passed down, undisputed, to future generations.

Perhaps the subtle undertone of the film, echoing reality, is that we may never actually know the true story of Mr. Hoover; perhaps he desired this end, but nonetheless it is the end which history will be forced to accept.

Given the general framework of the film, the writer and director did a great job telling and depicting this story.