The complicated life of J. Edgar Hoover is thoughtfully and quietly distilled into a feature film by director Clint Eastwood. J. Edgar is a movie, therefore, thats free of fuss. Told mainly through an older Hoover reciting back his life story, its a conventional structure that allows Eastwood to cherry-pick some of the most interesting moments from the contrversial life of the man who was the first director of the modern day FBI. J. Edgar, as a movie, is sometimes a little too cautious for its own good, sidestepping one or two areas of its subjects life. But in... the title role, Leonardo DiCaprio is in excellent form. Sometimes weighed down by ageing make-up, but always able to hold the screen, its his central performance thats the compelling reason to watch the movie. Judi Dench has less to work with as his mother, although Armie Hammer fares better as Clyde Tolson, the man who may or may not have been Hoovers lover. The disc release does dig into Hoover a little bit more, with a feature exploring the complexity of the man. At the very least, it serves as a starting point to find out more about one of the most fascinating people in modern American history. The film and disc certainly scratch the surface on him, and theres plenty here to like and admire. They do leave you with a lot more to discover, though --Jon Foster [show more]
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Clint Eastwood directs this biopic starring Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover, the head of American law enforcement for nearly 50 years. Hoover was the first ever Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from its inception till his death in 1972. Both admired and vilified during his lifetime, he covertly collated a number of files on political and public figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt, the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King, while at the same time keeping the truth of his own private life a closely guarded secret. The film offers a portrayal of a complex and controversial figure, as seen through the eyes of Hoover himself. Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, Ed Westwick, Dermot Mulroney and Judi Dench co-star.
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