Gee Film Reviews

4th November 2011

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J. Edgar - Exclusive Screening Review

Grade: B

Challenged with an inclusive premise that encapsulates the career and personal life of one of America’s most controversial figures, it takes a skilled collaboration to handle the subject with ease. In the case of the biopic J. Edgar, legendary director Clint Eastwood teams with screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (recently known for Milk), to craft a film that is technically exceptional. With a subject of a public figure known equally for his work in the FBI and his private eccentricities, Eastwood masterfully directs a film that gives the audience a multi-layered albeit clumsy portrait of a controversial American figure, 

Portrayed by Leonardo Dicaprio, J. Edgar focuses on John Edgar Hoover’s career as a whole - from his dealings with Charles Lindbergh to his final days dealing with the Kennedys - with the screenwriter attempting to compress the highlights of Edgar’s career. With this, the film’s overall depiction potentially serves as a history lesson to a generation who may deem Edgar irrelevant (I admit, I am guilty to this prior to watching the film). Conventional storytelling is absent from Black’s screenwriting, resulting in a complex drama that significantly suffers from an inclusive scope, which is perhaps the derivation of the main flaw of J. Edgar. The film continually jumps back and forth through a timeline ranging half a century; While it is performed considerably at ease, its flaw derives from the fact that the storytelling possesses no focused story. While it is done in an engrossing manner, the lack of one subject results in a lack of a pathos appeal. Overall, the screenwriting can at times seem inconsistent, and Eastwood’s directing cannot cover the film’s lacking of impacting emotion.

Although the storytelling is not quite up to par for what it could have been, J. Edgar is directed in a way that will satisfy any Eastwood aficionado; the film is approached with a passion of ambition that is obvious. Paced perfectly, a true glimpse of the subject and the era he lived is set forth within the film. Led by a tour de force performance by Leonardo DiCaprio, the emotional toll and suffering Edgar faced in his personal life comes off as authentic, but unfortunately the film makes it somewhat superficial, almost meaningless. DiCaprio is also supported by Armie Hammer - who portrays Edgar’s deputy and rumored lover - a relative newcomer who gives a performance that might as well be his breakout performance into award winning acting. The two performances perfectly compliment each other, creating a duel acting force that captures the speculated relationship with reality. Along with its captivating cinematography and amazing art direction, the director creates a film that flaunts textbook quality film making.

Bouncing back from a film that was not too well received - Hereafter - Clint Eastwood returns with a film that matches the directing of some of his best films. J. Edgar is masterfully directed and is led by two bona fide performances by Armie Hammer and Leonardo Dicaprio. With excellent filmmaking qualities, the film is able to considerably encapsulate the career and success of the famous John Edgar Hoover. Although the clumsy storytelling results in a superficial portrait of Edgar, the ambitious nature of the film will be pleasantly welcomed in Eastwood’s extensive catalog. Grade: B

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