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J. Edgar (2011 film)

A biographical movie directed by Clint Eastwood

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Fascinating Story of the Man Behind the F.B.I

Nov 23, 2011

by djevoke
posted in Movie Hype

Exclusive to the Lunch Network

Rating:

Possible Spoilers Alert. I really enjoyed this film. I found it quite fascinating that the FBI had such a hard battle to get initiated into American government and that each new President wanted to fire Hoover and disband the FBI.

Without Hoover, we wouldn't have FBI, kidnapping wouldn't be a federal crime (brought on by the Lindberg kidnapping), the agents wouldn't be armed or have any right to arrest criminals, and we wouldn't have a fingerprint database that have helped police and government agencies solve crimes for the last few decades. Hoover was an incredibly determined man and he wanted to organize citizens like he organized the Library of Congress, on cards with their fingerprints, so that you could readily access if they'd committed a crime. He became obsessed with that idea, much to the detriment of his personal life.

Though, it appears that he had no interest in pursuing the ladies, I thought his sexuality was played really subtly. I expected it to be so blatant (as other reviewers have stated) but, it wasn't. The only thing I had a problem is with the catering to stereotype in one scene. That has more to do with the writers/producers then, the cast/director but, it still annoyed me. He and his long time right-hand man, played brilliantly by Armie Hammer show such a delicate relationship of balance of power, love, tenderness, loyalty and passion.

When oh when will poor Leo get an Oscar? Dear GOD! The man is talented and has long deserved one, this performance just adds onto his long list of Oscar cred. DiCaprio has been reamed for his dialects in the past, but I thought he hit in on the head in this film. I thought he did a great job of playing such a complex man. Everything about his performance was believable to me, though, honestly, I wasn't alive during Hoover's powerful influence, so all I have to go off of is media stills and stories.

DiCaprio did not do this by himself. With the infinitesimally talented Dame Judi Dench, playing the only woman in Hoover's life, or at least the most important. The other woman tied for that title was played incredibly well by Naomi Watts, Hoover's secretary, Ms. Gandy. An awkwardly funny scene earlier in the movie landed her that role, to which she was loyal his entire life. Honestly, I had no idea Watts was this character until I looked it up on imdb.com. That should say a lot about her acting! Bobby Kennedy was another wonderful performance that added to this film's quality, played by Jeffrey Donovan (from TV's Burn Notice).

I highly recommend this movie. My one complaint is that it seemed a bit long and I wanted it to focus even more on the birth of the FBI. OK, I have one more- Nixon. The guy who played him was miscast. I agree he looked slightly like him, emphasize slightly but, he didn't have the accent or the gesticulations down. This is not a film about the FBI, it's about J.Edgar Hoover, who had his friends call him Edgar, just like his mother had.

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rbuchanan December 03, 2011

Hoover was interested and involved with some women, but his dominant proclivities usually didn't extend to the fairer sex.

Also, Armie Hammer provided that knockout embodiment of Clyde Tolson, not Josh Hamilton.

djevoke December 05, 2011

You're right- I'll correct that now. Sorry for the mix-up and thanks for the correction.

rbuchanan December 06, 2011

By the way, junior Armie's a hammer of THE Hammers, his father none other than Occidental Petroleum magnate/Cold War switch-hitter Armand. So much nepotism results in horrid performances, but like those pleasant exceptions from Michael Douglas to Balthazar Getty before him, Hammer's performance here proves him a refreshingly talented fortunate son, and his preceding role as the Winklevoss boys in The Social Network is one of but a few outstanding factors that I'll surely gush over whenever I type a gargantuan review of that fucking thing.

djevoke December 07, 2011

Yeah, I thought he was great- just had him mixed up a bit ;p So often, rich heirs waste their time and resources on cocaine and Paris Hilton. It's always good to see when one of them jumps out of that box and has talent.

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Madpenguin December 03, 2011

More than likely I'm not going to see this even though several folks dig it, but nice write up anyways.

djevoke December 05, 2011

Thanks, Penguin! It was a good flick but, I bet you have a huge list of to-see's. You can always catch it as a rental.

Madpenguin December 05, 2011

A huge list of to sees, to reads, to plays, to hears... the list is near endless.

djevoke December 05, 2011

No kidding! I'm right there with ya ;p

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Butterfly1961 December 02, 2011

Wonderful review and I certainly agree with you that Leo deserves much more attention that he has gotten; he's VERY talented and it seems from all the reviews I've read that he deserves a lot for his performance in this one. You know, I am the most UN-political person that ever lived, so I was really not aware of the influence Hoover had as far as the FBI - I'm glad you mentioned this in your first paragraph -- excellent review Samantha and this is one I really should see.

djevoke December 03, 2011

I think you would LOVE it, Brenda! It's a great film and Leo should get an Oscar for this one, hopefully. I didn't have a clue as to how far his influenced reach either, so it was all fascinating to me. Thanks for the compliments :)

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littlesam1 December 02, 2011

Excellent review. I really like it a lot also. And although I am not a huge Leo fan, his performance won me over in this film and I think its his chance for an Oscar. There has been a lot of debate about the way his sexuality was addressed in the film. One side is as you stated saying it was handled very subtly. I went in expecting it to be somewhat hidden leaving you guessing, but instead felt it was handled more openly that I had expected. I do think their relationship was handled just as it would have happened during the time period when things we kept secret and not openly displayed. And I loved Judy Dench in the film also.

djevoke December 02, 2011

Thanks, Larry! I think that the reason I thought it was subtle was that due to some reviews I had read, they said that it was open and obvious which I didn't agree with. Obviously, yes, they were lovers but, I didn't think it was as out there as, say, Milk or something. I also agree that that was due to the time period in which the movie takes place. I loved Dame Judi Dench but, really, who doesn't?

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FM_ALEX November 27, 2011

Great review, can't wait to see this.

djevoke November 27, 2011

Thanks for reading! It's definitely worth your time, let us know what you think after you get a chance to check it out.

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woopak_the_thrill November 23, 2011

Nice going, Sam! I have to say I am happy that this movie has been getting quite a lot of positive reviews. I have been procrastinating on this one, but I intend to catch up real soon (24 unwatched blurays and going to theaters), the Holidays are putting a cramp on my movie-watching habits. As for the movie being a little too long, seems like Eastwood is sticking to his philosophy of grabbing the originally script raw with no changes. Thanks!!

djevoke November 23, 2011

Thanks Woo- it started as a QT but, then I kept hearing you and Count asking me why it wasn't a review once it hit three paragraphs lol. Yeah, the length didn't drag the story, you could just feel it. Then, I left the theatre and was like...WHAT TIME IS IT?!? Holy cow! You could prob wait to see this on DVD because it won't make that much of a difference in your viewing pleasure.

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Scotman November 23, 2011

Great review! I have not been watching many theater films lately as they're so expensive to go to but I may shell out a ten spot for this. I do like DiCaprio.

djevoke November 23, 2011

Thanks! It started as a QT and developed into a review :) Try to catch it on the early showings to save some money. Often the first flick of the day is the cheapest, followed by matinee showings.

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review by littlesam1. November 16, 2011

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Oscar worthy performance for Leonardo - but no awards for makeup - J. Edgar

I rated J. Edgar a four based on Leonardo's DiCaprio's performance. Clink Eastwood slow placing seems completely appropriate to me in this film, although I have read many reviews complaining about the pacing. At two and a half hours the movie is long, but I was kept spellbound by Leonardo's tranformation into J. Edgar Hoover. In my opinion he is a shoe in for a best actor nomination this year. I thought Judi Dench was excellent as always playing J. Edgar's … more

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Samantha (djevoke)
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About this movie

Wiki

J. Edgar is an upcoming biographical drama film directed by Clint Eastwood,^[1] from a script by Dustin Lance Black. The film will focus on the career of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover from the Palmer Raids onwards, including an examination of his private life as an alleged closeted homosexual.^[2]
The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Damon Herriman, Ed Westwick and Jeffrey Donovan. J. Edgar is slated to open the AFI Fest 2011 in Los Angeles on November 3, 2011, and to be released on November 9, 2011, in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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