J. Edgar

Movies that are based on true events or labeled as biopics have a greater responsibility than just telling a story, they have to entertain. So in the instance of entertainment is Hollywood to blame if they have to embellish the story for entertainment values. I think not, most stories about people’s lives are a little mundane and need a little beefing up in order for an audience to enjoy sitting through it. Here we have the story of one of the most pivotal figures in law enforcement, J. Edgar Hoover and his rise and fall from power. Unlike other films of this genre like The Queen, which covers one event in the life of the character, this film deals with the majority of his adult life and how he preserved it.

The life and times of J. Edgar Hoover, from the build up and creation of the FBI to the backroom dealings that gave him the power that he so craved. The story alone in entertaining to a point, but the added action moves the plot along quicker, told through the writing of Hover’s memoirs. One of the best aspects of this film is the makeup job that is applied to Leonardo DiCaprio; he truly looks as if he’s aged from his twenties to his seventies. The other star of this film is truly the director, Clint Eastwood; he is able flesh out the characters and the scenery in a way that the audience does not get lost in the leaping in time. Through the writing of the memoirs we are transported from the 1920s to the 1970s, and with the flawless direction and seamless editing we do not lose track of where we are or who we’re watching.

As biopics go this film is more involved than most with less exaggeration than most, it has an air about it that shows just enough to peak the audiences interest but also holds back enough as not to overwhelm. With all of the biopics that have come out over the past few years there are but a few that can be said to be worth watching repeatedly, this is one of them.