Review 569: J. Edgar
J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) was the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for nearly 50 years. He was feared, admired, reviled and revered, a man who could distort the truth as easily as he upheld it. His methods were at once ruthlees and heroic, with the admiration of the world his most coverted prize. But behind close doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.
Anyone who knows anything about J. Edgar Hoover will know that served as the director of the Bureau of Investigation from 1924 until his death in 1972. During that time, he did many questionable things but also made many great achivements. He added the word "Federal" to the title in 1935 and served under many great Presidents from Kennedy to Roosevelt to Kennedy to Nixon.
He was also believed by many to be the second most powerful man in government.
One of the many creative liberties the film takes with history is the topic of Hoover's sexuality. The screenplay was written by Dustin Lance Black (who also wrote the Harvey Milk bio pick Milk) who may have invented Hoover was famously against homosexuality and even went as far as to refuse to allow minorities such as gays, blacks and women to become FBI agents.
Clint Eastwood's direction is In a lot of ways, stylistically, Eastwood shoots this film like a Classic Hollywood film with very dim lighting and muted colours; nothing is glamorised
Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a powerhouse performance playing J. Edgar Hoover
Armie Hammer (fresh off of playing the Winklevoss Twins in The Social Network) also impressed immensely playing Clyde Tolson. Tolson was Hoover's protege and long time top deputy.
Naomi Watts is also luminously effective playing Helen Gandy, J. Edgar's secretary. Starting off as file clerk Throughout the film, they're shown to have a very cordial and they go through so much together over the course of their long and illustrious careers at the FBI
Judi Dench, as always, delivers a fabulous performance playing Anna Marie Hoover, Hoover's mother.
Dermot Mulroney, Jeffrey Donovan, Michael O'Neill
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