Plot Summary
During his lifetime, J. Edgar Hoover would rise to be the most powerful man in America. As head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nearly 50 years, he would stop at nothing to protect his country. Through eight presidents and three wars, Hoover waged battle against threats both real and perceived, often bending the rules to keep his countrymen safe. His methods were at once ruthless and heroic, with the admiration of the world his most coveted, if ever elusive, prize. Hoover was a man who placed great value on secrets-particularly those of others-and was not afraid to use that information to exert authority over the leading figures in the nation. Understanding that knowledge is power and fear poses opportunity, he used both to gain unprecedented influence and to build a reputation that was both formidable and untouchable.
Credits
Director
Screenwriter
Producers
Movie Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes
TOMATOMETER
44%- Reviews Counted: 211
- Fresh: 92
- Rotten: 119
- Average Rating: 5.7/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: Mr. Eastwood's ponderous direction, a clumsy script by Dustin Lance Black and ghastly slatherings of old-age makeup all conspire to put the story at an emotional and historical distance. It's a partially animated waxworks.
Rotten: Somehow J. Edgar manages to be both epic and empty.
Fresh: A pleasing, intelligent film happy to describe Hoover's behaviour as monstrous but too balanced and searching to damn him as a monster.
Fresh: An elegant film from a classy filmmaker that will satisfy a discerning, intelligent audience
Customer Reviews
Not the Oscar movie I was hoping for, but still enjoyable.
Watching the trailer for "J. Edgar" gave me goose bumps. Every time I watched it, I was thinking to myself "Clint Eastwood AND Leonardo DiCaprio?! This is without a doubt an Oscar front-runner!" While I did find this film both compelling and entertaining, I was dissapointed that it wasn't the epic crime-drama that I though it would be.
The main reason that this film didn't work for me was the lack of focus in the story. The movie encompasses the life of J. Edgar Hoover, one of the most respected, yet hated men in American history. Clint Eastwood tells us this through a non-linear storyline, jumping back and forth from Edgar's first years in the F.B.I., to his prime years where he started making secret files on many political figures, to his final years where he's interviewed by other agents for his autobiography.
All aspects of this story are very interesting to watch, but just when you get focused on one story, the movie just flips to a different time-period, and you don't go to the previous story for a good 20 minutes. This really bothered me as far as emotional impact goes, because when the film ended, I knew that I was supposed to feel misty-eyed, but I wasn't; which is a sad thing, since nearly all of Eastwood's previous films left me in tears.
I know that I've talked a lot of bad about this movie, but believe me, there is a lot to like about this movie. Even when one of his movies isn't great, Leonardo DiCaprio always gives 110% in his roles, and this movie is no exception. He gives one of the most phenomanol performances of his acting career, and I do wish that he was nominated for Best Actor. The cinematoghraphy and art direction were also very masterful, along with Eastwood's score, which I wish was available for purchase.
So overall, this film had everything it needed to be a great film. If the editing had just been a little bit better, then it very well could have been. But still, there is enough that this film does right to have an enjoyable, intriging experience. Great performances, good direction, but it just needed more focus.
"When morals decline, and good men do nothing, evil flourishes. A society unwilling to learn from the past... is doomed. We must never forget our history, we must never lower our guard." - Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar
A GOOD MOVIE, BUT NOT AS GREAT AS IT COULD'VE BEEN
Judging by its trailer, "J. Edgar" seemed like it'd be a shoo-in to be one of the best films of the year. With Clint Eastwood directing, Leonardo DiCaprio leading an all-star cast, and an intriguing premise based on one of the most controversial and powerful figures in American history, it had all the makings of being a main frontrunner at the Oscars. Unfortunately, that wasn't exactly the case with this biopic. Now, don't get me wrong. It did have some great things to offer. The acting, for one, was undeniably well executed and more than convincing. DiCaprio, in particular, gives one of the best performances of his career as Hoover, the official leader of law enforcement in the United States for almost fifty years. The main problem I had with this movie was how its story was told. Eastwood's direction can get very confusing and difficult to follow at times, especially since the narrative jumps back and forth from one period in Edgar's life to another. For instance, you could be watching a young Hoover dealing with the murder case of the Lindbergh baby, and then the next minute, the story would immediately flash forward to a much older Hoover being interviewed for an autobiography. Because the film never consistently stays in one scene for no more than about fifteen to twenty minutes, it often feels very unbalanced and underdeveloped. If I were to nitpick a little more, I'd only say that the old-age makeup used on DiCaprio and Armie Hammer (Clyde Tolson) looked very cheesy and unrealistic and that the story itself left little to no significant emotional impact. But aside from those problems, I actually did find "J. Edgar" worth watching. Like I said earlier, this movie contains some really strong performances, not to mention one of DiCaprio's best roles in years. The sheer attitude and force he brings to his character make him all the more genuinely believable with every scene. All in all, though, the film could've been a whole lot better. If it had focused more on the quality of its storytelling and a little less on the development of its characters, it could've made for a truly enlivening experience. But as a whole, "J. Edgar" is still a generally informative and often rewarding flick, even if it does have its ups and downs.
Gee Clint What Happened??
Clint's first badly made movie!!
Leonardo good actor.
But Leo in this is HORRIBLE!!!!!! Acting horrible, his voice horrible and completely non believable. Am I the only one who noticed this? I am sure Leo see's it too
when he watches himself.
I have not seen a movie this bad in a long time. Long long time. It's like I could not stand watching this, it is not only boring and made very badly, but the choice of casted characters is all fkced up.
Sorry but that is the truth. Watch this at your own risk. Think about this for a second….. I like both Clint and Leo in most movies…!!! This was just 0stars.
ImmuneZone
Viewers Also Bought
- The Iron Lady
- Phyllida Lloyd
- View In iTunes
- My Week With Marilyn
- Simon Curtis
- View In iTunes
- The Conspirator
- Robert Redford
- View In iTunes
- The Double
- Michael Brandt
- View In iTunes
- A Dangerous Method
- David Cronenberg
- View In iTunes
