The Aviator Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: The Aviator
Year: 2004
Director: Martin Scorsese
Country: US
Language: English

Perhaps the most interesting man to have ever lived, Howard Hughes was an enigma wrapped inside a mystery. During his lifetime he was the richest man alive, yet struggled to overcome his extreme OCD. There are stories of him locking himself in his theatre, watching Ice Station Zebra dozens of times in a row and peeing in glass jars rather than seek a washroom. He rarely spoke to the public, only doing so via telephone when trying to dispel rumors made about the mad genius.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays the eccentric figure. The film opens with the shooting of Martin Scorsese's favourite flick; Hell's Angels. Even in his early years we can see Hughes' desire for perfection to come at a cost. We follow the man's life, uncertain that he will ever get the help he needs. 

The Aviator focuses on Hughes' golden years, when he has not yet bought a bungalow  behind the Beverly Hills Hotel and refused to leave. Like most Scorsese characters, we see his time at the top. Spending lavishly, dating Hollywood's greatest beauties, an heir to his father's fortune. Life seems dreamy, but he slowly fights to be mentally healthy. At times he can see what's normal, but unfortunately it grows out of his reach. 

Leonardo DiCaprio pulls off a great performance as he endures two simultaneous emotional storms; one where Howard Hughes is a success professionally, another where he is a failure personally. Though even trapped within his own mind, he is able to pull off a great public act without revealing too much about his private life. Unfortunately DiCaprio is nobody's ideal look-a-like for Hughes, but he does capture the spirit of a genius. Scorsese should be applauded for perfectly capturing the look and feel of the Golden Age of Hollywood. His use of special effects greatly enhance the picture, rather than destroy it with phonyness. 

In conclusion, while Cate Blanchette didn't strike me as a convincing portrayal of Katharine Hepburn, I felt the film was vibrant with energy and captured all the excitement of that particular era. Scorsese rarely makes a poor picture, and this was no exception. The Aviator is a film I would watch many times over. Praise it! 4.5/5