The Aviator [2004] (Scorsese/DiCaprio/Blanchett)

[An4h0ny]

Couldn't find a thread for this. Just rewatched on HBO Max and wow is this film beautiful and fantastic. Can't believe it came out in 2004. Seeing the Miramax logo made me feel very nostalgic. This is probably a Top 10 Scorsese for me.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-A...ay/573/#Review
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-A...3/#UserReviews

Such a great cast.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes
Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn
John C. Reilly as Noah Dietrich
Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner
Alec Baldwin as Juan Trippe
Alan Alda as Senator Ralph Owen Brewster
Ian Holm as Professor Fitz
Danny Huston as Jack Frye
Gwen Stefani as Jean Harlow
Jude Law as Errol Flynn
Willem Dafoe as Roland Sweet
Adam Scott as Johnny Meyer

This is a HUGE story but is paced really well. The 170 minute running time feels absolutely essential. I love almost everything about this film. Scorsese does some super interesting things with color and symbolic imagery. Another incredible aspect of this film is learning what a crazy, over-the-top, infuriating and also fascinating character Hughes was. He approached Tesla levels of innovation and scientific breakthrough. He was also similarly beset by personal demons. Scorsese offers his theory as to the origin of those psychological maladies.

[Winslow Leach]

THE AVIATOR is one of my favorite Scorsese films. It's a winner.

[Benoit Blanc]

"We just beat Germany and Japan. Who the hell are you?"

[andantelise]

Great film, great performances.

We need a UHD of this, along with Gangs, immediately.

[An4h0ny]

Originally Posted by Benoit Blanc

"We just beat Germany and Japan. Who the hell are you?"

Alda was so wonderfully evil in this.

[dkelly26666]

I love it.

That year, I chose it for Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Actor, Supporting Actress, Production Design, Cinematography, Film Editing, Costumes, Sound Mix, and Sound Effects. So 11 of my personal awards. Obviously, it was number 1 on my Top Ten, that year.

DiCaprio was amazing in this. I liked all the little cameos, too, like Willem Dafoe, Jude Law, Gwen Stefani, Brent Spiner, and others. Blanchett was a bit hammy at first, but then settled into a very moving performance after a bit. Alec Baldwin and Alan Alda were good slimy villains. John C. Reilly and Kate Beckinsale were solid, too. The ending was haunting.

A very, very good film.

[traths]

It's been way too long since I've watched this. I don't remember Gwen Stefani being in this movie.

[Cremildo]

My favorite Scorsese film. Not his best per se, but the one I enjoy the most. So refined, stylish, exhilarating. If only all mainstream biopics were like this.

[Gacivory]

Saw this on my birthday and became an instant favorite! One of my favorite Scorsese films as a teen and still holds up to me.

[An4h0ny]

Originally Posted by traths

It's been way too long since I've watched this. I don't remember Gwen Stefani being in this movie.

It's a "blink and you'll miss it" kind of cameo as Jean Harlow. She does have a couple of lines. But she's just there for a second.

Can definitely see why she was cast though!

Jean Harlow
Gwen Stefani (as Harlow)

[Show spoiler]

[dkelly26666]

Sorry, everyone.

This is the obligatory point in a thread like this where I proclaim that, in MY own humble opinion, Martin Scorsese has never made a bad film. No duds, at all, IMHO. Not even any mediocrities, to me.

Even his early student films are great for early student films, and even an early gig like "Boxcar Bertha" is quite good for what it is (that ending!). And from "Mean Streets" onward, every single film is either good to great to all-time great. Every one is worth your time. Some are better than others, not every one is a masterpiece, but they are all very well worth your time, indeed.

This was one of his great ones.

[floridaswamprat]

I have a daughter with professionally diagnosed OCD. When trying to tell people what it's like, I reference this movie. Unfortunately, when people think OCD, they think Monk.

[An4h0ny]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

This is the obligatory point in a thread like this where I proclaim that, in MY own humble opinion, Martin Scorsese has never made a bad film. No duds, at all, IMHO. Not even any mediocrities, to me.

This was one of his great ones.

I really can't disagree.

He is a strong contender for Greatest Film Director Alive.

Not everyone loves him, but I sure do.

[Synchg]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Not even any mediocrities, to me.

uve never seen new york new york

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by Synchg

uve never seen new york new york

Yes, I have. I've seen them all. It's still very good. Not one of his best, but still very good, especially in the restored longer cut.

[sanjuro78]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Yes, I have. I've seen them all. It's still very good. Not one of his best, but still very good, especially in the restored longer cut.

I quite liked the mix of old style Hollywood and his gritty New York sensibilities. Couldn't agree more with your previous post, that's why he's my favorite director. He's never made a dog like Spielberg, Coppola DePalma or pretty much any other director.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by andantelise

We need a UHD of this, along with Gangs, immediately.

Both would look STUNNING in 4K.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by sanjuro78

I quite liked the mix of old style Hollywood and his gritty New York sensibilities. Couldn't agree more with your previous post, that's why he's my favorite director. He's never made a dog like Spielberg, Coppola DePalma or pretty much any other director.

Yes, I saw it as a mixture of an old, MGM musical (hence, Judy Garland's daughter, Liza) with those show stopping numbers; a bit of "A Star is Born"; and then John Cassavettes and his gritty, NYC realism.

The film was originally taken from Scorsese by the studio and cut down, removing most of the musical finale and other bits. They also released it against "Star Wars". It bombed. Then, in 1991, MGM allowed Scorsese to return and restore the film to his original cut, and it was re-evaluated by many critics and thought to be much better than originally thought.

It has its issues, it's not perfect. But it is still very good.

[An4h0ny]

Definitely agree. I can absolutely see someone not loving NY, NY but it's certainly not anywhere near "mediocre."

I think I'm gonna watch Mean Streets.

[Doc Samson]

I love The Aviator. It's my personal favorite DiCaprio performance.

I actually only saw it for the first time a few years ago and it blew me away. I don't know why I slept on watching for so long. But I'm glad I eventually did.