 Movie
Reviews
with Evelyn Gough
The Aviator (M)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
 Leonardo Dicaprio as Howard Hughs in The Aviator.
Howard Hughes: billionaire playboy, inventor, filmmaker, test pilot and finally a complete nutter! What a sad way to end a brilliant life. Thankfully Martin Scorsese's film The Aviator only covers Hughes' (Leonardo DiCaprio) life between 1927 and 1947, when he was taking America by storm, and not his final years when he was a total recluse, obsessed with germs, living on the top floor of the Desert Inn in Las Vegas.
But when he wasn't obsessively washing his hands or repeating the same phrase over and over again he was directing epic movies, revolutionising aviation, breaking speed records and making and dating Hollywood stars. Oh, and he also invented the half-cup bra!
The Aviator is three hours long but - and forgive the pun - the time flew by. This is a fascinating insight into a fascinating life, beginning in 1927 when Hughes was making his epic war movie Hell's Angels, the most expensive film ever made at the time, costing close to $4 million, and finishing in 1947 with the much anticipated one and only flight of the largest plane ever built, the Hercules flying boat (aka the Spruce Goose).
In the intervening years he wooed movie stars Katherine Hepburn (Oscar nominated Cate Blanchett), Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale) and Jean Harlow (Gwen Stephani) to name but a few, insisted on designing then test flying his own aircraft, only just surviving a horrendous crash, and introduced the world to Jane Russell's breasts. He also bought control of RKO Pictures and TWA.
The Aviator is flying high, scoring the most Oscar nominations this year.
I'm still tipping Jamie Foxx for Best Actor but do admit Leonardo DiCaprio delivers an excellent portrayal of a complex character. And after three decades of filmmaking, will this be Martin Scorsese's year to win Best Director? Nods too must go to the supporting cast, all of whom are excellent. Amongst them are Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, John C Reilly and Ian Holm.
The Aviator is an engrossing true-life tale brilliantly recreated by a master director and his talented cast and crew. Highly recommended.
PS. Watch out for Jude Law as dashing Tassie superstar Errol Flynn!
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