J.Edgar

[Merton Park]

Starring Leonardo Di Caprio in the title role, Judy Dench as his Mother and Naomi Watts as his long time secretary. Directed by Clint Eastwood.

This is the biopic of J.Edgar Hoover first head of The FBI who served in that position from the 1930's until his death in 1972.

Di Caprio is excellent in the lead role, no question he will be there or thereabouts at Oscar time, whilst Judy Dench with her normal English accent seems somewhat out of place. Naomi Watts is extremely good. The make up for the lead role, as he ages, is exceptional, whilst that for his deputy, the actor Josh Hamilton, is positively dreadful, in that it is so obviously bad, although notwithstanding this, his acting performance is very good indeed.

The film is a little overlong and consists of a lot of flashbacks as J Edgar looks back over his life. Overall worth seeing for Di Caprio's performance and it is an interesting subject, but for me it just misses the target. I was really looking forward to seeing it and it left me a little disappointed.

6 out of 10

[Merton Park]

Sorry slight error:

The actor with the terrible ageing make up is Armie Hammer.

[Marky B]

There is no easing up in Clint! He must make more films now then he did when he was younger! 81 years old now,the lad!
Ta Ta
Marky B

[cumberbatches_woman]

im a big Leo fan and eagerly waiting to watch this film, most of what a watch is download ( can i say that ) and Judi Dench is a fine actress, what can i say.

[Mark O]

Link to trailer for J. Edgar, released soon, another potentially great biopic to look forward to!..........

J. Edgar

[oxfam1uk]

Sorry to nitpick - but Hoover was actually the second head of the FBI (a fact his minions tried to erase from history).

Also, his deputy Clyde Tolson was also his lover. As Hollywood is all in favour of that sort of malarkey nowadays, I'll be interested to see how the film reports this fact - perhaps as the "one good thing" about Hoover ?

[Heinrich]

Directed by Clint Eastwood?
Expect it to be poorly lighted.

[Mark O]

Directed by Clint Eastwood?
Expect it to be poorly lighted.

It was in many scenes, but it added to the overall atmosphere, and was right for those specific takes, I enjoyed the film myself, though I don't think it would be everyones cuppa, very little in thrills and spills, but rich in dialogue and fact, it spans the era from 1919 to 1972 in flashbacks, the early scenes show how world events such as the Chicago riots and the shooting of servicemen at a Veterans day in Australia, plus local events like the bombing of an agents home by 'bolsheviks' led to his strong anti-Communist principles and ideals, all things I didn't know about, but am now going to read up on, Judi Dench as his mother is excellent as always, though she was acutely homophobic, explained why in the film, "I'd rather have a dead son, than a daffodil for a son", was one line, which in turn left him unable to come to terms with his own sexuality, Edgar was totally devoted to his mother, he's overwhelmed with grief on her death and he puts on her attire in one scene.

The Lindbergh baby kidnap case is also covered, not intensely, but enough, the whole of America was understandably absorbed with this at the time, even Al Capone wanted to offer financial assistance to help catch the kidnapper, apparently kidnapping was not a federal offence before this tragic case.

No Jack Kennedy seen, only heard on tape in a tryst with presumably Marilyn Monroe, though Bobby is portrayed in a few scenes and it's obvious he despises Edgar, again for the 'secrets' he holds, before I always thought of Leo as a bit of a 'lightweight' actor, but not anymore, he played the part with believable sincerity, all full 10 out of 10.

[Steve Crook]

before I always thought of Leo as a bit of a 'lightweight' actor, but not anymore, he played the part with believable sincerity, all full 10 out of 10.

Check out many others of his later films, he hasn't been a child for many years. He's done a lot of heavyweight parts

Steve

[Mark O]

Check out many others of his later films, he hasn't been a child for many years. He's done a lot of heavyweight parts

Steve

Will do Steve, I have to admit I only really know him from my beloved Titanic, which I virtually know word for word, and the film where he's a fake aeroplane pilot, Catch me if you can, I've just seen the once, 'fluffy' roles for want of a better term, as opposed to 'being in the mud, action type things', but J.Edgar was no fluffy role for Leo, a very intense one.

From what I knew of Hoover I thought he was a bit of a bully, but no, he just had standards, standards that were rigorously enforced in his FBI, such as physical condition, appearance, databases, etc; he felt it was his job to make the USA safe for everyone else with his pursuance of radicals and criminals, a true defender of the USA.

[GRAEME]

From what I knew of Hoover I thought he was a bit of a bully, but no, he just had standards, standards that were rigorously enforced in his FBI, such as physical condition, appearance, databases, etc; he felt it was his job to make the USA safe for everyone else with his pursuance of radicals and criminals, a true defender of the USA.

Oh dear. No, Mark, whatever the film says, he was a neo-fascist anti-democratic bully of the highest order. It is scary that a nut like him could have had so much power for so long in a supposedly free country.

[Mark O]

Oh dear. No, Mark, whatever the film says, he was a neo-fascist anti-democratic bully of the highest order. It is scary that a nut like him could have had so much power for so long in a supposedly free country.

He was definitely 'untouchable', by Presidents, Congress, the Media, etc; because of his knowledge but I don't take on board the neo-fascist, anti-democratic allegations you've made Graeme, for one thing he wasn't racist, (I know you didn't say that, it's just something I'm throwing in) he had a black chauffeur and housekeeper, all he wanted was for americans to live in a free and safe society, that doesn't make him a right-wing extremist, because of his ideals he sought and eventually won the right to deport 'radicals' who wanted to destroy american democracy, it's because of him the USA wasn't taken over by Commies which would have subsequently led to a regime like Stalin's, all starvation, murder, and Gulag.

[GRAEME]

He was definitely 'untouchable', by Presidents, Congress, the Media, etc; because of his knowledge but I don't take on board the neo-fascist, anti-democratic allegations you've made Graeme, for one thing he wasn't racist, (I know you didn't say that, it's just something I'm throwing in) he had a black chauffeur and housekeeper, all he wanted was for americans to live in a free and safe society, that doesn't make him a right-wing extremist, because of his ideals he sought and eventually won the right to deport 'radicals' who wanted to destroy american democracy, it's because of him the USA wasn't taken over by Commies which would have subsequently led to a regime like Stalin's, all starvation, murder, and Gulag.

It is pointless arguing with you Mark. But fun.

Racism really is separate to fascism. Please look up the words and see.

Yes. Mr Hoover wanted to protect American democracy - by restricting everybody else's democratic right to disagree with him. If your views differed from his, you were an extremist. But I guess you are completely in tune with his definition of freedom - freedom to think, say and do only what our masters want us to think, say and do. So that would be all right then.

Hoover was one of the key figures in eliminating the American left and emasculting the labor movement. Instrumental in keeping America right-wing no matter which party wins an election.

Job done!

[CaptainWaggett]

Hoover had the great Emma Goldman deported for opposing the WW1 draft (I'd have thought you'd have approved of that, as a pacifist, Mark )

[Mr Sloane]

Hoover had the great Emma Goldman deported for opposing the WW1 draft (I'd have thought you'd have approved of that, as a pacifist, Mark )

And like his fellow traveller John Wayne somehow managed to avoid the draft for the world war (Wayne for the second and Hoover the first).

[Mark O]

Hoover had the great Emma Goldman deported for opposing the WW1 draft (I'd have thought you'd have approved of that, as a pacifist, Mark )

doh........., please may I reiterate that I'm a deterrent pacifist.

Yes, it all very to well to protest, I'm all for peaceful protest, that's what Joan Baez says when she's performing, but not planting bombs to achieve specific aims, that's a definite no no., the anarchist bombings of 1919 was portrayed very early on in the film, J. Edgar went to survey the damage to the Attorney General's home on his bicycle, it's been mentioned on the forum before but the left's beloved David Milliband condones 'criminal damage' to achieve so-called 'aims' as well, naughty lad, obviously not raised to respect other peoples property, but then as his Daddy was a Marxist, and Karl said "all property is theft", he's no doubt taken his cue from him.

1919 United States anarchist bombings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Mark O]

It is pointless arguing with you Mark. But fun.

ditto Graeme

Racism really is separate to fascism. Please look up the words and see.

Nobody told the Nazis that

Yes. Mr Hoover wanted to protect American democracy - by restricting everybody else's democratic right to disagree with him. If your views differed from his, you were an extremist. But I guess you are completely in tune with his definition of freedom - freedom to think, say and do only what our masters want us to think, say and do. So that would be all right then.

Nonsense, everyone can think what they like, unless they have the misfortune to live in North Korea, are you aware people are being sentenced to six months hard labour for not 'crying' enough at their former Leader's death?

Hoover was one of the key figures in eliminating the American left and emasculting the labor movement. Instrumental in keeping America right-wing no matter which party wins an election.

America is not right-wing, it's conservative, not as in tory, but in "if it ain't broke don't fix it", a sentiment I whole heartedly agree with

Job done!

1919 United States anarchist bombings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've yet again been unsuccessful in doing 'multi-quote' (please someone, give me some simple step by step instruction!) but I've written under your sentences my replies.

[GRAEME]

1919 United States anarchist bombings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've yet again been unsuccessful in doing 'multi-quote' (please someone, give me some simple step by step instruction!) but I've written under your sentences my replies.

Your post is laughably wrong. Your view of the world is utterly bewildering to me. I don't know whether you really believe it (god help you if you do!) - or you try to wind me up on purpose.

On this occasion, I shall not rise to the bait.

You can live in your alternative universe, if it makes you happy...

[christoph404]

Directed by Clint Eastwood?
Expect it to be poorly lighted.

Odd thing to say. Cinematographer is Tom Stern, credits include "Invictus", "Gran Torino", "Letters From Iwo Jima", "Flags of Our Fathers" "Million Dollar Baby" "Mystic River" to name a few,all visually stunning films, poor photography is not something I would associate with a Clint Eastwood film.

[GRAEME]

Odd thing to say. Cinematographer is Tom Stern, credits include "Invictus", "Gran Torino", "Letters From Iwo Jima", "Flags of Our Fathers" "Million Dollar Baby" "Mystic River" to name a few,all visually stunning films, poor photography is not something I would associate with a Clint Eastwood film.

Well said - Clint has always chosen his cinematographers with care - and his films are usually beautiful to look at.