Review of J. Edgar (2011) by Mark H — 12 Jun 2012
Director Clint Eastwood has a lack of passion for his subject. It's as if he was handed a school assignment regarding a figure he couldn't care less about. As a result we're left with a man we have no interest in as well.
Eastwood's condemnatory take is of a man out to destroy people's reputations while simultaneously trying to hide his own true sexuality. Hoover was a polarizing figure. Great biographies have been made concerning individuals far less likeable or interesting than Hoover, but they had a focus that engaged the mind.
The narrative here is disjointed. Clint Eastwood's bloated opus lacks a defining moment as it trudges on for a seemingly unending 2 hours and 17 minutes. He superficially touches on assorted controversial aspects without ever delving deeper as to why we should be fascinated by this man.
Random samples of Hoover's existence are presented one after the other without any unifying thread other than the man at the center of it all.
This review of J. Edgar (2011) was written by Mark H on 12 Jun 2012.
J. Edgar has generally received mixed reviews.
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