The Aviator
2 Disc Widescreen Edition
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Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zikFDK4cuQA
For a movie that clocks in at 2 hours and 45 minutes, I find The Aviator to be very short. The movie is so good that I would have gladly watched this in one sitting if it were 10 hours long. This is a fascinating look at one of the most unique American personalities to come along. Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) is both brilliant and an enigma. I've seen my share of documentaries on the man over the years, so I was excited when I heard that they were finally going into production on this bio pic. And I was beyond happy that Martin Scorsese was going to have his hands all over this. If you are a fan of his or Leo's or Hughes, this is an absolute joy of a movie to watch.
Everything about The Aviator screams classic Hollywood film making at its finest. The cinematography is amazing, as well as the Sound FX Editing. But the meat and potatoes of what makes this film truly fly is Leo's impeccable performance as the obsessive-compulsive Hughes. Watching Leo transform from a Playboy who had all the women you could think of to basically breaking down before our very eyes is to see a master at work. But he wasn't the only one piloting this movie. Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn was extraordinary and just knocked it out of the park. Dare I say it, but she stole all the scenes that she had in this one, including Leo. I was happy she won for Best Supporting Actress, but I was bummed that Leo once again got the shaft. He should have one for Best Actor. Bah!! (http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i266/Chiprocks1/Smilies/0%20All%20Smilies/HTL_mad.gif)
It's gotta be a trip for John C. Reilly to work with Leo on two films and see him at work and get nominated both time. They previously worked together on What's Eating Gilbert Grape (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/dvd's-blu-rays/what's-eating-gilbert-grape-(1993)/msg12165/#msg12165). He's not the only one along for the ride. This has got some big heavyweights like Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda, Kate Beckinsale, Ian Holm, Adam Scott, Jude Law and Gwen Stefani (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/music/no-doubt-discography/msg382/#msg382).
Anyway, I highly recommend this as a Buy. Be sure to get the 2 Disc Widescreen Edition. It has a wealth of bonus features that I'm still working my way through. It's got your typical making of doc, but the Crown Jewel is the History Channel, hour long doc on the man himself.
Onto a related topic, if any of you are fans of planes in general, but sure to check out Mac's Boeing (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/general-discussion/boeing/msg1020/#msg1020) Thread. It's got a lot of cool stuff to check out. With Howard Hughes vast contribution to the Space Program, you might also want to check in on the Space and Beyond Thread (http://pennycan.createaforum.com/general-discussion/space-and-beyond-thread/msg10831/#msg10831) as well.
The Aviator DVD Screencaps
Coming soon...