Leonardo DiCaprio seethes as the founder of the FBI in Clint Eastwoods latest movie, J Edgar.
But there was one thing the nascent FBI had that Hoover could use, and that was politics.
The Palmer Raids beget Prohibition and the War on Crime.
That lead to the Mafia and the Red Scare.
That beget the 60s and the radical movement.
He was a crime-fighting rock star in public, but also a deeply troubled man.
Yes, the more famous ones are there.
Also, his stuttering and amphetamine usage, and even his gambling are all addressed.
More importantly than that, he gives a great, emotional performance.
Hammer inhabits both young Tolson and the frail, elderly Tolson who sticks with Hoover until the end.
Im sure Watts has ideas, but they dont quite make it through the layers of old age makeup.
Thats another flaw with this movie.
The prosthetic makeup used to age the characters is just dreadful.
Elderly Hoover isnt good, but Elderly Tolson is absolutely abysmal.
He looks like hes wearing one of thePoint Breakmasks at some points.
I appreciate the effort, but it just didnt work for me.
Despite this, Clint Eastwood has put together another brilliant movie.
J Edgaris riveting, from the cold opening to the final shot.
Expect this movie to be mentioned again in a few months on the Academy Awards telecast.
Rating:
4 out of 5
