The Aviator (2004)
An epic fast paced biopic about an eccentric billionaire with success on the outside but with a hidden personal derailment. As a showcase for the early Hollywood industry, I liked this more than the majority of Babylon.
Despite being almost 3 hours long, it doesn’t feel like it with it’s fast pace from start to finish. We go from one big massive project to the next, and new female companions in between as well. Along with some decent flying spectacle, though a few with questionable CGI. The movie rarely settles down or slow the pace to get a bit deeper into one topic, but I guess that is a conscious choice to reflect on the erratic lifestyle of Howard Hughes. It was difficult to keep track of where his business was at any given time, you just get a sense that something massive is always under way.
DiCaprio does well in showing the duality of Howard Hughes with his outwardly confidence and his inner struggles. While the movie as a whole was pretty entertaining with an engaging narrative, the sheer amount of stuff that happens at a breakneck pace also made everything feel a bit flat and superficial in the end.
Rating: 3.5