FBI doesn’t stand for “Female Body Inspector?” Since when?
The Pitch: The story behind J. Edgar Hoover, the mysterious founder and 50-year head of the FBI.
What It Really Is: More Brokeback Mountain than political expose on one of the most influential government forces of all time. Leonardo DiCaprio was miscast as the bombastic, insecure and sexual confused power monger. The old-man makeup, especially on co-star Armie Hammer (the guy who played the twins in The Social Network), is so distracting that it’s hard to focus on the movie. Director and most awesome person on the planet Clint Eastwood, whose hot streak has hit a snag with this and Hereafter, doesn’t even scratch the Hoover surface. We feel like we know less about the guy than before we watched it.
It’s Not All Bad: At least it’s not boring, like Robert DeNiro’s CIA flick The Good Shepherd. We just wish he focused more on Hoover’s affect on the country and crime-fighting than a completely speculated romance with his number 2...that The Social Network twin guy.
Maxim.com Ready-Made Press Blurb: “It’s no secret that J. Edgar is a peek under the skirt of Washington’s most mysterious man.” --Maxim.com
Does Blu-ray Make a Difference? It’s a sharp but drab movie covered in shadows, most likely to convey mood and cover up the old-man make-up. At times we could have sworn Naomi Watts’ face was melting. By the way, Naomi Watts is in this.
Special Features: “J Edgar: The Most Powerful Man in the World”
Who’s It For: Political junkies, cross-dressers, people with an old-man make-up fetish.
Studio: Warner