Dane from
MORE FM Middawn with Dane Anderson reviews 'J. Edgar' featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Watts. Is it worth it spending your money on a ticket to see this movie?
J. Edgar Hoover was a man who possessed much power within the United States for almost 50 years, the new biographic film ‘J. Edgar’ directed by Clint Eastwood does its best to replicate how J. Edgar established the F.B.I to be the powerful force it is today, and how one man could become so powerful with the knowledge he had yet so elusive as how little people knew about him.
The film focuses and explores the known public life of J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) and also the lesser known private life of arguably the most powerful and controversial figures of the 20th century.
Hoover was a powerful man who was loved, hated, and feared as the face of America’s law enforcement, building it up and making it a powerful force against anyone that would threaten crimes against the country.
However he was also rumoured to be vulnerable, in terms of his love for his mother, those close to him, and the secrets that would have destroyed his image, career, and life.
Little is known about the latter but ‘J. Edgar’, written by Dustin Lance Black who also wrote ‘Milk’, tries to explore what might have been.
Naomi Watts stars as Helen Gandy, Hoover’s long serving and loyal secretary, Armie Hammer as Hoover’s no.2 and close friend Clyde Tolson, while Josh Lucas stars as Charles Lindbergh and Dame Judi Dench takes on the role of Hoover’s mother Anne Marie Hoover.
Leonardo DiCaprio is as always powerful in his performance and portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover; however the film lacks the punch needed to catapult it to any substantial greatness sadly meandering along with little direction.
It’s an interesting insight into the history of the FBI and the somewhat rumoured stories of a very powerful man.
6 out of 10
In Cinemas 2nd February