Review of The Aviator (2004) by Sergel C — 29 Aug 2011

Martin Scorsese's thorough study on about 25-30 years of lengendary director/producer/aviation fanatic Howard Hughes yields another triumpth of a film by the lengendary director. The film begins with Hughes (Leonard di Caprio) filming his first movie, "Hell's Angels" and the pessimism of the movie industry for the success of this relatively expensive $4,000,000 project (for its time that is).

At the same time, he is desgning a series of blueprints for his up and coming airplane projects, not only for his films but also to fix his obsessive fascination. He also buys Trans World Airlines. In addition, Hughes also has to deal with his fear of crowds, his mental problems including his paranoia of other people's feelings towards him, and his fear of germs.

"The Aviator" flies by and is both an involving and entertaining story. Dicaprio's performance is one of best, and Cate Blanchett's performance as Katherine Hepburn is superb (of which she got a well deserved Oscar for).

They are also many other intriguing, minor, and memorable performances, which includes Gwen Stefani as a waitress, Willem Dafoe as a reporter, Alec Baldwin as the president of Pan American Airways, Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner, and John C.

Reilly as the owner Howard Hughes' tool company and also his assistant. The special effects, especially the crash sequence, and Scorsese's script plus the ability to re-capture the late 1920's to the early 1950's is fantastic.

Another great film by the master...also much different compared to his previous hits.