January Edition 2005
 
 
 
 

 

The Aviator
Cert: 12A
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Gwen Stefani, Adam Scott, Kelli Garner, Ian Holm, Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Danny Huston
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Running Time: 170 mins

RATING: 4 / 5

A biopic of legendary Hollywood director and aircraft fan Howard Hughes, Martin Scorsese treats us to another character featuring a somewhat unconventional attitude towards life. Although perhaps not quite as self-destructive as the Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle or Raging Bull’s Jake la Motta, Hughes is no less ardently driven by his own personal agenda.
As we’ve come to expect, the film simply oozes style and grace, filmed with the high standard expected only from a director of Scorsese’s calibre. Another high point, perhaps unforeseen by many, is the quality of Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance. Not only did I feel surprised, but also massively impressed—perhaps the influence of his expert director has cultivated his talents.
Overall, it doesn’t offer up Scorsese’s most definitive psychoanalysis of a character (an accolade still belonging to Raging Bull), yet this portion of Howard Hughes’ intriguing life story is still forcefully delivered, helped along by the excellent Leonardo DiCaprio in his best role yet.

 

Alexander
Cert: 16
Starring: Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Rosario Dawson, Val Kilmer, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jared Leto

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Running Time: 175 minutes

RATING: 1 / 5

Oliver Stone’s latest offering follows the story of Alexander the Great, the ruler who reportedly wept when he realised there were no more realms left for him to conquer. Stone may do the same thing himself when he realises what an utterly dull and pointless movie he's directed. It's worrying to think that the architect of such classics as JFK and Platoon could make an epic about war and empire that's so utterly one-dimensional and simplistic. The poor choice of lead role in Colin Farrell only adds further insult to injury—it’s not so much his fault as the script he’s forced to follow. One to avoid.