Film Review: J.Edgar

J. Edgar is a drama from Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as controversial former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. Over time there’ve been frequent rumours about Hoover, some addressed in the film. He’s presented as a man of contrasts that continuously acquires knowledge, but keeps his own secrets concealed.

The film explores J. Edgar Hoover’s nearly 50-year career as head of the FBI, as recounted by him. Also focussed upon are his few relationships with people he trusted, including Secretary Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts) and Associate Director Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer).

Mostly told through flashback, as we hear Hoover dictate his memoirs. Consequently the stories come entirely from his perspective, as he tries to guard his legacy with what might be labelled lies and gross exaggerations. However I felt that the story line seemed to jump back and forth too much at times, the film could have worked better if it had kept its time periods more certain. It also rarely refers to several of the most famous cases that J. Edgar Hoover dealt with as head of the FBI. The main focus was naturally on Hoover the man, but I was curious to see more of the effect he had on his country.

Regardless of time periods, the acting remains good throughout. Judi Dench is particularly accomplished in her role as Hoover’s mother, Anna Marie. It’s apparent from her few supporting scenes that much of Hoover’s drive, in the film at least, can be traced back to his relationship with his dominating mother. DiCaprio gives a layered varied portrayal that is appropriate for the role, sometimes he’s subtle, whilst at times melodramatic. The main question of the film is how close the relationship between Hoover and Tolson is? Early on, it’s more implied and visible from odd actions, which worked well since it could be read in different ways. However the film doesn’t brave a specific answer, leading to an unsatisfying resolution.

As expected for a Clint Eastwood production, film elements like music, editing, lighting and camera movements usually tend to be unembellished and non-distracting. But there was one aspect that was more garish than I anticipated. Things just get bizarre in the bits needing the actors to look older; because of the sheer amount they just start to look more make-up than man. J. Edgar is a very similar film to The Iron Lady because the acting is skilled, the flashbacks constant, the make-up heavy and perhaps there’s too much of interest left out of the story. J. Edgar Hoover may’ve been a man who for his career had to know too much, but by the film’s end I was left wishing I knew more about it.

- Jon Bartholomew