The Aviator (2004)

The Aviator is Martin Scorsese's contribution to what appears to be the year of the biopic (Alexander, Ray, Kinsey, Finding Neverland, et al), as the director presents a three-hour look at the life and times of Howard Hughes. Although very much like Hughes himself--elegant, eclectic, eccentric--the film takes a long time to make its point, if there is one, and in the end, its still a mystery.

Story

The young and idealistic Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) is driven by two forces in his life: airplanes…

Martin Scorsese's depiction of the biggest mogul of Hollywood's golden age (Howard Hughes) means it's Leo's movie, of course, but the treat is rating the supporting cast, from Gwen Stefani (one speaking line) to Alec Baldwin (excellent as Pan Am honcho Juan Trippe). Suitably extravagant shots include more than 100 planes in the sky to depict the filming of Hughes' 1930 movie Hell's Angels. The bonus disc's best bit is The Affliction of Howard Hughes: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

What you get in Ihe Aviator is a big, juicy, gorgeous, high-flying epic that spins through the early life (1927-47) of Texas tycoon Howard Hughes, the hotshot pilot, aviation pioneer, junior movie mogul and boob-crazed seducer whose obsessive-compulsive disorders left him a germaphobic hermit, holed up naked with vials of his own urine. What you don't get in The Aviator is a Martin Scorsese film cut from his own dark obsessions (he took on the project late, when Michael Mann dropped out). The…