My Review: J. Edgar

The film J. Edgar directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Leonardo DiCaprio tells the story of famed FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The film opens on screen with an aged J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) recounting how he first became interested in the FBI.
Within the first few minutes of the film there is a flashback to the year 1919 where a bombing took place at the home A. Mitchell Palmer and a young 24-year-old J. Edgar arrives on bike and notices the way authorities handled or rather mishandled potential evidence and there he began his life with The Bureau. At 24 he becomes the Acting Director of the FBI.
The film goes on to show J. Edgar's awkwardness, seriousness, caring and mean spirit. This film had its moments when it was comical which is something I did not expect and it even had its moments when as the viewer you were drawn in and could relate to his plight. The film shows that although he was more powerful than the president underneath it all he was as Clyde Tolson, played be Armie Hammer (The Social Network) said "A scared little man."
Also co-starring in this film was Naomi Watts as Helen Gandy, J. Edgar's personal secretary, Judi Dench as J. Edgar's mother and although Jeffrey Donovan was only in a few scenes I enjoyed his performance as Robert Kennedy.
Some seem to think that this film is a little controversial because there is a certain scene that could make some people feel uncomfortable, but homosexuality was a part of J. Edgar Hoover's life and I feel that the film would not have been genuine if it was not included. The overall film is not about a gay relationship between J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson (Hammer) to me there relationship throughout the film was more so a friendship. The film portrayed Tolson as being the only person Hoover could turn to and trust.
Leonardo DiCaprio did an excellent job as J. Edgar Hoover and will almost surely receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and the film itself will likely get a nomination for Best Picture. Also, kudos to the make-up artist that worked on the film because they made Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer look almost unrecognizable as an aged Hoover and Tolson.
If you are a person fascinated by history, a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio or just want to get away from seeing the usual shoot 'em up action flicks then this is the film for you.
THUMBS UP.

Puss in Boots towers over 'Tower Heist'

Puss in Boots is a spin off prequel of the character made popular in the Shrek franchise. The cute kitty made his first film appearance in Shrek 2 and is voiced by Antonio Banderas. Puss in Boots follows the adventures of Puss before he meets Shrek. The film opened in theaters on October 28th and although it was expected to capture the number 1 spot for that week it was not expected to stay number 1.
The Brett Ratner film Tower Heist opened on November 4th starring funny men Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller and also starred Matthew Broderick, Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), Alan Alda (television show MASH) and many others. With such an all-star cast Tower Heist was expected to knock the saucer from the kitty and grasp the number 1 spot in the box office, but it did not. Puss in Boots stayed number 1 for a second week raking in $33 million and Tower Heist made a cool $25.1 million.
Can Puss in Boots stay number 1 for a third week? We just have to wait and see. This was a bit of a surprise because I expected Tower Heist to dominate, but $25 million is far from chump change.

Eric Bana is set to play Elvis

Eric Bana will play Elvis, but do not get too excited or upset this will not be a bio-pic. The title of the film is "Elvis & Nixon" and the setting is December 21, 1970, when Elvis Presley had a historic meeting with then President Richard Nixon at The White House.

The Actors

Can Eric Bana pull off playing Elvis Presley? In this age of film making anything is possible, but the part of Elvis will require more than slicked back hair and costumes. It will require a swagger, charm and Southern twang. At first there was only rumors that Danny Huston (from X-Men Origins: Wolverine) would play the role of Richard Nixon, but now it has been made official.

The Director

This film will be the directorial debut of actor Cary Elwes probably best known for his acting in the films The Princess Bride and most recently Saw and will be in the upcoming film The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. He was so intrigued by the unlikely meeting of the two, Elvis and Nixon that he decided to write and direct this film.

My Opinion

As of right now there is no official release date for this film so stay on the lookout. With the little bit of information that I have I must give my opinion that this film will drag on with dialogue. This meeting between Elvis and Nixon could not have been that long, but maybe there will be more to this film. Hopefully Elwes has written wonderful dialogue, scenes and historical references that will not only intrigue the movie viewers, but the history buffs in attendance. I will just have to wait and see what the movie trailer brings.



Thank you: www.cbsnews.com and The Washington Post Express

17 Minute Gangster Film

The year was 1912 and a film titled "The Musketeers of Pig Alley" hit theaters and no one knew at the time, but this film would open the door for a whole new genre of movies that would span decades. This was the first gangster movie in history or so it is accredited to being so.
This film was written and directed by D.W. Griffith and co-starred Lillian Gish, who is said to have been one of the best actress' in her day.
The Musketeers of Pig Alley is about a poor married couple living in New York City and the husband is a musician who has to travel a lot. On a day when he is returning from one of his trips his wallet gets stolen by a local gang member. The husband's wife (Gish) goes to a ball and a man tries to drug her, but the attempt is stopped the very gang member that stole her husband's wallet. Upset that his plan to drug the woman was spoiled the man and the gang member become rivals and a shootout occurs. The husband recognizes the man that stole his wallet and the husband takes the wallet back. The woman (Gish) grateful for the gang members interference she and her husband hide the gangster in their apartment. When the police come the woman gives a false alibi for the gangster.
This short 17 minute silent movie was filmed in Fort Lee, New Jersey and location shots in New York City used real street gang members as extras.
Back in 1912 this short film may have really shocked and surprised people, but by today's standards this film would not even make a 10-year-old gasp. Considering the society back then and now things have definitely changed. Now days everyday a person hears about someone getting robbed or shot or stabbed or whatever and a person just chalks it up to this is everyday life, but back then to hear about someone getting robbed or there was a shootout it was a big deal, people got frightened.
This was the first film to show the public at large the crime that was taking place in the city streets and made the way for many gangster films to follow.