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.