This week's aviation-themed film is The Aviator, a biopic based on the life of Howard Hughes. Released in 2004, this film was directed by Martin Scorsese and starred Leonardo DiCaprio. It won five Oscars out of eleven nominations, including Best Supporting Actress to Cate Blanchett for her superb portrayal of Katherine Hepburn. The Aviator is a fast paced, compelling piece of entertainment. There is crisp editing, an interesting replication of historic color processes, full and scaled models for many of the flying sequences, and a notable score by Howard Shore.
Readers who are familiar with the Hughes story know that it is far from a happy one for a boy born to wealth and privilege. It is the story of the full spectrum of ambition, achievement, and personality. DiCaprio's performance of Hughes's decline into severe mental illness should earn him high respect as one of the better actors of our time.
As for the film's subject, Howard Hughes, it can be said he was one of the most eccentric, diverse, inventive visionaries of the last century. If you enjoy films, you can bet they'll be some of him somewhere in the equipment or the production. If you fly frequently or have anything to do with the aviation industry, his imprint will be everywhere.
Here is the trailer:
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