Review: J. Edgar

To his credit, Leonardo DiCaprio never shies away from challenging roles.  The 37-year-old actor relishes the test, consistently exceeding expectations with the nuance he brings to his parts. DiCaprio’s performance as the title character in Clint Eastwood’s biopic “J. Edgar,” is no different, providing depth, and exposing the man behind the legend.

J. Edgar Hoover was one of America’s most powerful men, yet also one of its most enigmatic.  He dedicated his life to the FBI, where he forged a reputation as a cutting edge criminal investigator, with solid moral fiber.

In his private life though, Hoover was far from squeaky clean.  Rumors abounded of blackmail, cross-dressing, and closeted homosexuality.  With his screenplay, Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”), sets out to debunk Hoover’s public image, by focusing on these darker aspects of his persona.

DiCaprio portrays both sides of Hoover with great ease.  As the fearless leader of the FBI, DiCaprio’s Hoover is a stubborn workaholic with an overinflated ego, who advocates for a firm stance against Communism.  He’s equally convincing though as the private Hoover, a socially awkward momma’s boy struggling with his sexual identity.  DiCaprio’s efforts are so subtle with this version of Hoover, that when he is around his overbearing mother (Judi Dench), he softens his tone of voice in deference to her.

Kudos should also go to Armie Hammer, who plays Clyde Tolson, Hoover’s love interest and longtime partner.  He gives Tolson a quiet sweetness about him, which is strangely contrasting with Hoover’s acerbic personality.  Hammer pulls on your heartstrings, getting you to truly believe that Tolson loved and cared for Hoover unconditionally, every moment the two were together.

Stellar performances aside, “J. Edgar” is beautifully shot, and the makeup effects are phenomenal.  Director Clint Eastwood shows great reverence for the locations where the film takes place in Washington D.C.  His high shots in The Library of Congress, for instance, focus on its grand architecture, establishing the weight of Hoover’s presence in our national government.

Lighting plays an important role as well in Eastwood’s visual styling. He uses high saturation, to give Hoover’s memories a slightly washed out feel, which cast doubt on the accuracy of Hoover’s recollection.  In contrast, Eastwood utilizes dark, natural lighting to increase the emotional impact of more turbulent moments, like the scene following the death of Hoover’s mother.

Makeup and aging effects used on the lead actors look superb, right down to the little details, like liver spots on their faces.  The result is characters whose mortality is more palpable because they actually look old and weary from their career driven lives.

If you’re looking for a tough procedural drama about how the FBI was formed, this film probably isn’t the right one for you, but if you’re hoping for a more intimate look at the complex man who built it all, then you should see “J. Edgar.”
My Grade: A