“We must never forget our history.” A weathered J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) shares this sentiment with a young agent as he takes down his memoirs.
It’s an admirable thought, and is ever present in director Clint Eastwood’s, “J. Edgar.”
Named the head of the Bureau of Investigation at the age of 24 and later on becoming the founder of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover was easily one of the most influential men of the 20th century. He was an intimidating man whose life and career were shrowded in mystery.
Telling the tale from both ends, Eastwood’s biopic tries to shed some light on J. Edgar, but winds up leaving us still in the shadows.
With some scenes so dark (literally) that a flashlight wouldn’t hurt, it’s easy to see what this film is trying to be. It comes complete with a slew of well-known historic figures. Robert Kennedy (Jeffrey Donovan), Charles Lindbergh (Josh Lucas), Ginger Rogers (Jamie LaBarber), Lela Rogers (Lea Thompson) and Richard Nixon (Christopher Shyer), to name a few. They provide some important and “that’s neat” moments, but don’t add much to the film. Interesting characters like Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts) and the prophetic Anne Marie Hoover (Judy Dench) are kept on the sidelines.
It always feels like we’re being kept at a distance. Artistically speaking, keeping that air of mystery isn’t a bad thing, but a little emotional connection doesn’t hurt either. Everytime a moment starts to resonate, we’re wisked away to another time and place.
As J. Edgar Leonardo DiCaprio is a brightspot in this film. He commands attention in every scene, and plays the aged Hoover with an ease that is remarkable. He makes as much of a connection as is appropriate when playing a historical figure known for his secrets.
He is aided by Armie Hammer as Clyde Tolson, J. Edgar’s number two man. Mr. Hammer has his work cut out for him with this role. The film not so subtly hints at Tolson and Hoover’s romantic attachment, and with the choppiness of the film it could have easily played for laughs. Hammer’s genuine personality and likability make Tolson a sympathetic character.
While not without its redeeming qualities,”J. Edgar” leaves you wanting something more. But perhaps that’s the way Mr. Hoover would have wanted it.
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