J.EDGAR 3.0***

Mr. J. Edgar ( Hoover ) was a symbol of corruption, law enforcement, and good ole American values all rolled in one very larger-than-life package. He was...

A mean one, a heel, as cuddly as a cactus, a nasty as a skunk...Oops, now wait! I am getting a bit confused...that's Mr. Grinch. Let me start again. He was...

Daring and resourceful, led the fight for law and order, a great champion of justice, with his faithful Indian companion Tonto...Whoa! Wrong again.

It's easy to confuse the man and the myth and Clint Eastwood's well made but slightly disappointing film, “J. Edgar”, tries to clear up some of the facts and fallacies that have befell this crusader throughout the decades. Mr. Eastwood doesn't always succeed, but he does create a complex man trying to come to terms with his own power and fame and yet unable to accept his own human flaws and foibles.

Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Hoover and runs the vast emotional gamut from a young idealistic and ambitious man ready to conquer the world to an aged cynical and lonely tyrant. DiCaprio expertly hones in on his character, that of a hypocritical man whose own life was shrouded in secrets and lies, and an unethical schemer who took great pleasure exposing other peoples' secrets and lies.

There is solid support by Naomi Watts as his stalwart and loyal secretary, and Judi Dench as his manipulative and controlling mother. Yet the best acting comes from Armie Hammer as his closer than closest friend, Clyde Tolson. Hammer adds the needed charm and central moral conscience to the film. This talented actor plays Tolson as more than the handsome
assistant, always at Hoovers side ( they ALWAYS had lunch and dinner together). He brings seriousness to the role and his dramatic outbursts with DiCaprio are the film's highlight. To put it more bluntly, Hammer nails it. ( Oops, another pun! )


Production values are top-notch, with the sole exception being some pasty and unnecessarily artificial make-up during Hoover's and especially Tolson's elder years. Yet other scenes involving the aging make-up and the prosthetics on many of the characters is quite accurate and believable. To say that the make-up is spotty is an understatement. While it's true that Hoover didn't age well, he certainly didn't age as badly as this film indicates, doing a major injustice to DiCaprio's fascinating portrayal.

Overall, J. Edgar is a competent and intelligent film. Clint Eastwood does a very credible job of recreating Hoover's world, and many in the main cast are Oscar worthy. The film succeeds by giving an unbiased and brutally honest look at one of the most feared and admired men in American history.

Clark