Movie Review – J. Edgar with Leonardo DiCaprio (2011)

It is heartening to see Leonardo DiCaprio grow into the talented adult he has become. He did an excellent job portraying a diverse, controversial and incomprehensible public figure – J. Edgar Hoover, who for more than 50 years under eight presidents as Director Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI was originally known as the Bureau of Investigation until it underwent a name change in 1935.

Hoover had his admirers and detractors in that day. His way of life is under close scrutiny at the same time that he has created presidents, politicians, actors, artists, subversives and radicals. His reputation rose through involvement in cases that received national attention: the deportation of Emma Goldman, the arrest of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who killed the son of Charles Lindbergh, and his efforts to prevent Martin Luther King, Jr. from receiving the Nobel Peace Prize because of MLK’s supposed dubious character. Likewise, their agents were responsible for the capture and murder of John Dillinger, one of the country’s most notorious outlaws.

The film treads very carefully in Hoover’s sexual past. J. Edgar hired Clyde Tolson, voiced by Armie Hammer, on law school graduation . Tolson served as his assistant throughout Hoover’s tenure as director. Although they were discreet with each other, rumors swirled about their relationship. Director Clint Eastwood dropped this part of Hoover’s personal life although he placed some of his arc on Hoover’s close relationship with his mother Annie Hoover, played by Dame Judi Dench. After her death, J. Edgar was depicted stripping off some of his mother’s clothing, a bold move by Eastwood.

Naomi Watts was ousted by Helen Gandy, Hoover’s personal secretary for over 50 years, who was ordered to destroy secret files about his death rather than President Nixon, one of his greatest enemies, order them. His faith is shown in the last scene, when he sees mountains of paper cuts.

Hoover added some innovations to his credit. He created a central intelligence agency, introduced forensic laboratories, modernized investigative technology, improved intelligence collection, and assured his agents that they were of moral character and doing their job responsibly.

Leonardo DiCaprio took on a serious assignment for this movie, as he had to portray Hoover from the time he was in his twenties until his death. to take such a part. Kudos to Leonardo for his willingness to do so. His efforts have resulted in several nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture: Golden Globe Award, Actors Sodium Award, and Critics Award Award