J. Edgar Reviews

Our Review

Flawed biopic still fascinates

Adam Bub, MovieFix

Clint Eastwood set himself a hard task from the outset by picking to make a biopic about a notoriously slippery figure of American history: the founder of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. While the 81-year-old director's latest effort is definitely no Gran Torino or Million Dollar Baby, it's still a compelling yarn about a deeply flawed and conflicted individual.

Like The Iron Lady recently, we meet the subject in old age at a time of political and personal reflection. John Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) wants to set the record straight on his achievements, from establishing the FBI in 1935 to pioneering a rigorous fingerprinting database to catch criminals, to his controversial measures of surveillance on political dissidents and politicians themselves.

Early on it becomes clear that our narrator is prone to megalomania and self-aggrandisement, revealing a gap between how J. Edgar wants to see himself, and how he really is. His self-denial extends to his repressed homosexual relationship with righthand man Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer).

Eastwood goes out on a limb with Milk Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, whose development of Hoover and Tolson's alleged relationship provides the film with its dramatic thrust. It's the juiciest material, and far more cinematic than Hoover's office-based activities. At 137 minutes, there's plenty that could have been excised.

DiCaprio delivers an Oscar-calibre performance as a monstrous man who's more of a scared little boy inside. He's supported by the superb Naomi Watts, quietly effective as Hoover's loyal secretary, and Hammer, who proves there's mettle beneath the Winklevii good looks we first met in The Social Network. Judi Dench, ever the actress to make a small role loom large, brings menace as Hoover's sinister mum.

The production values are unusually second rate. The cinematography is murky, some of the old-age make-up is frankly ridiculous, and the choice of music (and its absence) dampens what is obviously heightened drama.

Faults aside, J. Edgar is ultimately an engrossing experience anchored by a fascinating character and period of recent history.

Your Reviews

A fantastic film if you are suffering from insomnia, it very quickly enables the viewer to fall into a deep long sleep. I am grateful to Clint for the experience.

Movie Buff

Worst movie ever - More boring than Eddie Murphy's flop "Holy Man". I actually dozed off for about 30 minutes and lost nothing in the story line.

Ron

This movie without a doubt is the worst movie I have ever sat through and I might add I didn't stay until the last it was so boring, nothing happened, it never showed anything of the intrigue connected with Hoover, it tip toed around a life that was so full of secrets and the film continued this theme.

RRR

Nice insight into a difficult and (then) taboo subject. Thought the movie drifted into documentary type episodes but still managed to hold interest and attention. No doubt Eastwood is a clinical and fastidious director who researches his subects dilligently and the end result is always pleasing.

A K

For anyone who doubted his talent, Clint Eastwood establishes himself as one of the luminaries among movie directors.. An exceptionally well made biographical movie, the characters are very convincing (including those of Bob Kennedy and Richard Nixon) and the of course, the presence of Judy Dench adds to the great quality on display. The film portrays the private life of this controversial, and often hated character, with a humane and delicate approach that doesn't offend friends or foes. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it's easy to recommend. Clint Eastwood is on another winner here! Well done!

mr frumpy

A great american period piece. J Edgar was indeed an interesting man, despicable in alot of ways. Clint tries to cover alot of ground in this movie and keeps it all very captivating. Enjoyable

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