With a resume filled with powerful films, audiences grow high expectations in what Director Martin Scorsese's future has to offer. As a filmmaker Martin Scorsese is simply put, one of the best around at the moment and will certainly be considered one of the best of all time. This director has certainly not run out of steam because once again he has delivered a powerful and extremely memorable picture.
This time, Scorsese steps up and tackles a biopic on the life of Howard Hughes. This man was a famous filmmaker and just like the title of the film he was a aviator. When one is going to take someone entire life and experiences and wants to put it on film, you must place the most important things on the screen and be detailed to the emotional levels that certain human being went through.
Catching each feeling of Hughes emotion and being detailed is something Scorsese does in The Aviator effortlessly. The experience of direction this man has reveals itself with the beautiful shots and solid special effects that are in this film. However, even with the impressive visuals, Scorsese steps back and lets the actors control the scenes. With a cast including, Leonardo Dicaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin and Kate Beckinsale, the film has mainstream written all over it.
On the mainstream note, The Aviator is one of the best mainstream motion pictures to be released this year along with Kill Bill: Vol. 2. Hollywood has delivered some trashy films this year, but those who place film over fame will always find success. This is what Scorsese is great on and although in many ways this is adapted, the direction Scorsese gives here is nothing but pure originality.
Leonardo Dicaprio stars as Howard Hughes and one can argue that this is the best performance he has delivered in his career. Dicaprio delivers a performance of intensity and natural human emotions. The fact that he fell right into the characters problems is quite astonishing. Howard Hughes was a flawed man, but Dicaprios performance in this film is pure genius.
Another great performance in The Aviator is delivered by Cate Blanchett who plays Katharine Hepburn in this film. Her time is limited in The Aviator, but every second she is on the screen is solidly acted. From the acting to the direction and to the film as a whole, The Aviator is one of those perfect films that will have the Academy raving. Martin Scorsese without a doubt should be recognized for his work here.
Fresh out of what was one of the best films of 2002, Gangs Of New York, Scorsese has delivered another film that can stand on par with it. Its good to see that famous directors still have their engine running. Oliver Stone is another director that is well established, but after witnessing Alexander, I question his future films. However, he is still a solid filmmaker and like any other good filmmaker they can come back and retaliate.
Back to this film though, Scorsese does a great job to capture the phobias of Howard Hughes. He details them incredibly well and makes sure that Howard is always the center of the film. There is not at one time that the film is lacking from story telling. With no narration at all, Scorsese shows us Hughes biography rather than telling us, much like Alexander did.
For audiences that don't really have much enthusiasm on airplanes, they will find themselves greatly interested. Aviation is the main thing that made Hughes wheels turn, but he also had a passion for film. With confidence, he made sure he accomplished everything he strived for. I for one, believe that everyone in life has a passion that they are meant to experience and for Hughes he does just that.
The Aviator is simply a tremendous motion picture. At three hours long, The Aviator uses every minute to its advantage and doesn't have pointless scenes. This is a work of solid filmmaking, superb acting and a story that is unforgettable. Martin Scorsese and Leonardo Dicaprio might just be the next strongest team in cinema. Whatever the future may hold for them, one thing is for certain, The Aviator is a triumph of a film.
