Review of J. Edgar (2011) by Sam S — 29 Jun 2013

With J. EDGAR, Leonardo DiCaprio once and for all proves he is an astonishing actor. He totally blew me away. He is perfect in every sense of the word. He is enigmatic, grand, subtle, sad, happy--in other words, a truly complex presence in this midst of this huge and ambitious film. You completely forget you are watching "Leo". This is J. Edgar. Even his aging is perfect. I was scared a bit by the trailer because it was clear he would be in old-age make-up so much. But the make-up is flawless and he steers clear of all old-age cliches.

Unfortunately, this cannot be said for the rest of the cast. Armie Hammer, who may just be the prettiest man in movies today, is saddled with a make-up job that looks like the grandfather in the original TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE! And his old acting ticks are dreadful.

But on to the film itself. J. EDGAR is a complex work that is strongly focused on the repression and oppression of Hoover. Unfortunately, I found it all too tasteful and sanitary.