Interesting peek into the past. Review on The Aviator Movie

This is the movie that received the maximum Oscar nominations for 2004, but unfortunately wasn't as successful with awards. With that kind of background, it can't be a bad watch for sure.

It is kind of a biopic of Howard Hughes, an eccentric and ambitious Hollywood producer who was also passionate about aviation. The story spans over about two decades, also covering his mental illness and womanising. Though many characters portray the real faces of people whom we know, the most recognisable one is that of Katherine Hepburn.

The movie has no dull moment and is as exciting as the man himself. However, the length of three hours taxes the audience a bit. One wonders though which portions could have been trimmed off. The narration touches upon every significant aspect of his life. His relationship with Ava Gardner possibly deserved a little more screen-time. His dreams for aviation and his adventures are also very absorbing. The viewers are also exposed to the corruption and politics of the time.

With a lot of planes flying around, special effects plays a vital role and come out near-perfect. Cinematography is fine, but it is puzzling why the colours in a few scenes seem artificial. Art direction, costumes and make-up create the period drama very well, as can be expected from a movie of this level and that too from Scorsese. The background score further enhances the proceedings.

DiCaprio, being repeated by the director (after Gangs of New York), has his trust obviously. The good-looking star has turned his attention towards top-class movies of late and he goes several notches up with this performance. He manages to never tread into the over-acting zone, though his character provides good scope for it. The only problem though is that he doesn't look the age of the character for most of the movie. Blanchett impresses with an unusually loud portrayal of Hepburn. Beckinsale does fine in the little part that she has, while the supporting cast is perfect. Watch out for some big stars in brief appearances.

Scorsese successfully explores the various dimensions of Hughes, throwing light on both the positive and negative aspects. We also get to see an interesting phase in the development of Hollywood and air transport. In spite of a few pitfalls, the movie commands a watch on the big screen. It will also leave you thinking and discussing about it for a few days later.