Sick Day Number Two and I convalesced at The Aviator! Good thing, because the film, running close to three hours, practically requires a full-day’s commitment. Like a trip to Disneyland. And no doubt, a more crowded weekend house would have me kicked out of the theater for all my coughing and sneezing!

Without really expecting to, I thoroughly enjoyed The Aviator and found it truly an exhilarating ride! The narrative moves along in a wholly captivating manner, and I greatly appreciated Martin Scorsese's take on a uniquely American legend. The film could have been weighed down by the mind-numbingly awesome production values and art direction - but the story stands strong on its own feet – this is the stuff that myths are made of. Although I had a few problems with the opening and closing framing devices, in retrospect, how does one begin and end the grand story of such a complex subject? I thought Martin Scorsese handled the development and early manifestations of Howard Hughes’ widely known neuroses subtly and more than effectively; I’m glad the film lets off where it does and audiences are spared the experience of wallowing through the unfortunate and shocking state of his later years. (Dunno what kind of crack the critics have been smoking but Scorsese has been accused of downplaying Hughes’ wackiness. I think we get just enough in The Aviator – we can fill in the blanks! )

Um, and there’s always Jonathan Demme’s Melvin & Howard.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting chops are in top form throughout The Aviator. He holds the film together engagingly and with a remarkably vulnerable performance. It occurs to me only now in retrospect that DiCaprio’s own experience, his spectacular and probably overwhelming fame following the universal phenomena of Titanic, must have colored his sympathetic performance as Howard Hughes. He must be somewhat difficult to cast, not quite adult enough, but obviously outgrown teenage roles, and certainly since his monumental success he’s chosen parts cautiously and sparingly. At least thirty, the actor retains this natural man-child charm, and that works to his advantage in this film. DiCaprio is entirely convincing as Hughes and the audience sticks with him – believes in his grandiose visions and wants him to succeed – despite frequent manic breakdowns and seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

The supporting players are inventively and effectively cast. Sensitive-man seventies heartthrob Alan Alda (Maine Sen. Ralph Owen Brewster) and Wonk-A-Vator Alec Baldwin (Pan-American honcho Juan Trippe) are memorable as Hughes’ adversaries in efforts to get TWA off the ground. There’s a lot of 20th century history to be learned here actually. John C. Reilly, as always, adds to the film as Hughes’ long-suffering financial right-hand man. Ian Holm’s Professor Fitz is a delight! Jude Law (Errol Flynn) and Gwen Stefani (Jean Harlow) make cameos that have the potential to be disastrously distracting but actually work out okay. Oh, and tired Rufus Wainwright too.

Kate Beckinsale is clumsily miscast as Ava Gardner; she is too much of a fine-boned teacup to pull off what should have been a shot glass of the strong, good stuff. Granted she’s not given the best dialogue, and maybe she was just showing restraint so as not to come off as a caricature; what should have been one of The Aviator’s most tender and poignant scenes suffers from her lack of earthiness. (In all honestly, I haven’t been able to figure out Ms. Beckinsale at all since she moved to Hollywood a couple of years back… all I know is that she got real skinny and grew some luxurious hair and kills vampires in big budget things and isn’t very interesting any more at all.)

Cate Blanchett, in contrast, rips through and animates her Katherine Hepburn like a surging, slinky, and slippery electric eel. Clearly the writers furnished the actress with some meaty lines in what I assume is a significantly fleshed-out role in the epic scheme of dramatizing Hughes’ life. When Blanchett first bursts unto the scene affecting a Yankee accent, I thought, oh no this is going to be annoying… they could have just hired Martin Short for chrissakes. A few seconds later I realized her turn was going to far more complex and compelling than just an impersonation. The audience almost doesn’t get a chance to breathe we are so blown away by her rapid fire but nuanced delivery; and when she finally shuts up the pauses are just about the most pregnant moments in performance I’ve seen in a long time. The scene where Hughes nearly gets eaten alive by the Hepburn family at their Connecticut residence is absolutely priceless! DiCaprio and Blanchett play off each other deliciously, and Scorsese presents a convincing argument that Hughes and Hepburn had a unique, strong bond, and may well have been soul mates… at least until Spence came around. And the film seems to suggest that it was Hughes’ simultaneous meteoric rise in the public consciousness and his own advancing mental deterioration - not to mention his ambition - that drove Hepburn into her most legendary relationship.

And for those of you who have ever been behind the wheel of plane - which I have, even though I can't muster the courage to drive a car (since the accident and all...) - The Aviator captures the joy and intoxication of soaring through the skies vivdly.

I wholeheartedly respect and relish the manner in which Martin Scorsese throws everything and the kitchen sink into his productions; such is his grand love for life, his encyclopedic grasp of the cinematic tradition, and his commitment to providing audiences with a fully-realized and a quality experience. Not one visual, location, costume, musical and historic detail is presented half-assed and, as always with Scorsese, the film is resplendent with references to movie mythology. A true labor of love. I was a happy passenger throughout the whole beautiful flight and impressed by the service, despite the occasional turbulence.

DC residents, I highly recommend enjoying The Aviator in all its glory at the wide-screen Uptown Theater, appropriately a former Art Deco movie palace.
(Although, be warned, I saw a rat run by my feet today in the movie house. Oddly felt the compulsion to wash my hands until they bled.)

Comments

[Jeff]

Agreed. I saw "The Aviator" when I was visiting my parents over Christmas, and enjoyed it much more than I'd expected. Cate Blanchett is such a firecracker as Hepburn. Love her. (Ooh, so it's at the Uptown here? I may go see it again.) And re: Rufus, it's a family affair... the other scenes set in the Cocoanut Grove feature Loudon (his dad) and Martha (his sister).

[skunkeye]

Yikes and you know I read about that family musical thing appearances long before I saw the flick - thats how caught up I was in the Aviator I didn't even notice and forgot - now I can pull it all together about the scenes at the Coconut Grove!
Goes to show, Scorsese is detail oriented....