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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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Failure to launch
One of the first news stories I remember as a child in the Seventies was hearing that Howard Hughes – the richest man in the world – had died. Later I learnt that he tried – unsuccessfully - to fly the largest ever plane. Now I’m not generally a fan of ‘flashbacks’, but surely some would have helped at the start of this film just to set the scene; after all, the vast majority of the audience would never have heard of Hughes.
I thought this was supposed to be a Hollywood blockbuster, but there was little excitement to draw me into the story. I’m an engineer, but the talk of his drill bit business was a tedious bore, and the struggle to make the film was little better. I managed to sit through half an hour, but could not face another two hours, so switched off. IMO, if you can’t tell a tale in a 100 minute film, serialise it on telly.
Also, I agree with another reviewer – the opening scene of the mother soaping the boy was vaguely paedophilic – most disturbing. -
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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