The Aviator
2004
Martin Scorsese's THE AVIATOR is a lavish spectacle of a motion picture that harks back to Hollywood's Golden Era in telling the story of Howard Hughes, one of 20th-century America's most pioneering and influential figures. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the eccentric billionaire, Scorsese's biopic concentrates on Hughes's life .. Read more
| Starring | Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Alec Baldwin |
|---|---|
| Director | Martin Scorsese |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
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The Aviator
Martin Scorsese's THE AVIATOR is a lavish spectacle of a motion picture that harks back to Hollywood's Golden Era in telling the story of Howard Hughes, one of 20th-century America's most pioneering and influential figures. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the eccentric billionaire, Scorsese's biopic concentrates on Hughes's life between the 1920s and '40s, when he made some of his most striking contributions to both the film and aviation industries. At only 25 years of age, Hughes directed the most expensive film ever made up to that point, HELL'S ANGELS (1930), which Scorsese gleefully recreates here in all its sprawling, audacious glory. At the same time, he became known as an unabashed playboy, bedding the likes of Jean Harlow (singer Gwen Stefani), Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale), and Katherine Hepburn (a brilliant Cate Blanchett). In the mid-'30s, he turned his attention to the aviation industry, where he quickly became a world-renowned celebrity for shattering speed and distance records. He also continued to test the limits of flight technology, building bigger, faster, and stronger aircrafts. All the while, he struggled with an obsessive-compulsive mental disorder that sent him into a full-fledged tailspin after a near-fatal plane crash. The film concludes with Hughes being called to the Senate in '47 to defend himself against nefarious Senator Owen Brewster (Alan Alda), who accused Hughes of taking money from the United States government during wartime. Stunningly photographed by Robert Richardson, Scorsese's nearly three-hour drama features an impassioned performance by DiCaprio, who is also credited as an executive producer. Although she appears in less than a third of the film, Blanchett delivers a performance that cements her status as one of the finest actresses ever to appear on the big screen.
| Starring | Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Alec Baldwin, Gwen Stefani, Ian Holm, Alan Alda, Willem Dafoe, Jude Law, John C. Reilly, Matt Ross, Adam Scott, Kelli Garner |
|---|---|
| Director | Martin Scorsese |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 49 mins Blu-ray: 2 hrs 43 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
| Language | DVD: English, English Audio Description Blu-ray: English |
| Dubbed | German |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English, German |
| Released | DVD: 13 Jun 2005 Blu-ray: not available Production year: 2004 |
| Format | DVD |
The Aviator (2004)
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Critics' reviews (5)
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If The Aviator lacks the punch of Martin Scorsese's earlier biopic Raging Bull, it's perhaps because Howard Hughes presents him with too much raw material. A millionaire at 18 (he inherited the Hughes Tool Company from his father), Hughes went on to become an aircraft designer and movie mogul, set air-speed records, date Hollywood's top stars and create Jane Russell's push-up bra in The Outlaw. Hughes's childhood is dismissed in a brief prologue that sets up his obsession with cleanliness, then it's straight on to the beginning of his Hollywood career. The film is uneven, seemingly unsure of whether its protagonist is hero or villain, but Leonardo DiCaprio brings an impressive intensity to the role of Hughes — even if he still looks too boyish for the role. Cate Blanchett is a treat as a rather Emma Thompson-like Katharine Hepburn, but Kate Beckinsale is hopelessly miscast as Ava Gardner.
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Fascinating, witty and detailed account of a complex man that concentrates on his years of success and glamour, though it hints at the his future as a obsessive, unhinged recluse.
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Most helpful member's review
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49 out of 62 people found this review helpful
What was it actually about?
I watched the whole film with my partner, and by the end of it we were still none the wiser as to what it was actually about... the plot line seemed to be very vague, and jumped around a lot... Hughes' (Leo DiCaprio) psychological disorder was never properly addressed in the film, although it showed moments of great paranoia, and it felt like great chunks of plot had been cut, so for me the film didn't flow. I guess some people will love it, but I was very disappointed after all the hype :o(
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Most recent members' review
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27 out of 53 people found this review helpful
A Truly Awesome Cinematic Experience
Martin Scorcese's latest film is surely the piece of work that will finally secure him that elusive Oscar. Perhaps the most overlooked director by the academy throughout the history of cinema, surely now is his time.
The Aviator, based on the extraordinary life of billionaire Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), recreates 1920's - 1940's Hollywood with perfection. Hughes uses his great wealth, inherited from the family machine tool business, to bring together his two greatest passions: aviation and the movie business.
Amassing the world's largest private air force, Hughes ploughs $4 million of his own wealth into his movie spectacle 'Hell's Angels', a tribute to World War 1 fighter pilots. The production falters and more and more money is sunk into the project. Against all odds, the movie is a startling success and from there we follow Hughes' flirtation with Hollywood and the likes of Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale) through a series of highs and lows.
Having completed filming, Hughes transforms his air force into TWA turning his attention to aircraft design (The Hercules) and competing with Pan Am and it?s Chairman Juan Trippe (Alec Baldwin). Trippe's intention is to bring down TWA and it is through this stage of life that we see Hughes' on-off battle with madness, a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. DiCaprio brings this to life masterfully and reinstates his place as one of Hollywood?s top contemporary actors.
He is superbly supported by Blanchett's Hepburn and Beckindale's Gardner both of who bring great depth of characterisation to their roles. This, together with Howard Shore's vibrant jazzy musical score and Dante Ferreti's production design, creates a truly wonderful cinematic experience that should captivate the academy's attention.
Knock knock...
Who's there?
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, who else? -
News and features
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Ryan dating longtime friend and film producer King
- 11 Jun 2009
Hollywood actress Meg Ryan has found love with movie producer Graham King, according to reports. The Sleepless In Seattle star, 47, is alleged to have taken her longtime friendship with King - the producer of Leonardo DiCaprio's films The Departed, The Aviator and Blood Diamond - to the next level and embarked on a "serious" love affair, according to Us Weekly magazine. A source says, "It's very serious. They were recently in New York City for a lovers' getaway. "They love travelling together. Read more
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Aviator, The - BLU-RAY Version
Martin Scorsese's THE AVIATOR is a lavish spectacle of a motion picture that harks back to Hollywood's Golden Era in telling the story of Howard Hughes, one of 20th-century America's most pioneering and influential figures. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the eccentric billionaire, Scorsese's biopic ...
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The Aviator
Martin Scorsese's THE AVIATOR is a lavish spectacle of a motion picture that harks back to Hollywood's Golden Era in telling the story of Howard Hughes, one of 20th-century America's most pioneering and influential figures. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the eccentric billionaire, Scorsese's biopic ...
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