The Aviator (Howard Hughes played by DiCaprio)

ComingSoon.Net ^ | 12/04 | ComingSoon.Net

[theFIRMbss]

The Aviator

Release Date: December 17, 2005 (NY, LA, SF; wide release: December 25)
Studio: Miramax Films
Director: Martin Scorsese
Screenwriter: John Logan
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, John C. Reilly, Kate Beckinsale, Jude Law, Adam Scott, Kelli Garner, Gwen Stefani, Nellie Sciutto, Alec Baldwin, Danny Huston, Matt Ross, Ian Holm, Alan Alda, Frances Conroy, Vincent Laresca, Justin Shilton, Brent Spiner, Josie Maran, Sam Hennings, Willem Dafoe, Stanley DeSantis, Jacob Davich
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for thematic elements, sexual content, nudity, language and a crash sequence)
Official Website: Miramax.com/Aviator

Plot Summary: "The Aviator" tells the story of aviation pioneer Howard Hughes (DiCaprio), the eccentric billionaire industrialist and Hollywood film mogul famous for romancing some of the world's most beautiful women. The drama recounts the years of his life from the late 1920s through the 1940s, an epoch when Hughes was directing movies and test flying innovative aircraft he designed and created. It also chronicles Hughes' struggle with his physical disabilities and phobias, and his increasingly erratic, obsessive-compulsive behavior that led him ultimately to isolate himself from his associates and withdraw from the world.

[theFIRMbss]

Wow. DiCaprio as Howard Hughes! Why not go all the way and hire Paris Hilton to play him . . . She's more masculine than DiCaprio . . .

[rellimpank]

---good idea. Casting DiCapon as Hughes strikes me as about as silly as casting PeeWee Herman as Hamlet---

[Dalite]

Trivia Alert: Jan Berry's father (Jan of Jan and Dean) was a chief engineer for Hughes and was involved on design and construction of the "Spruce Goose"

[theFIRMbss]

>Jan Berry's father (Jan of Jan and Dean) was a chief engineer for Hughes and was involved on design and construction of the "Spruce Goose"

"In 1946 Owen Brewster, chairman of the Senate War Investigating Committee, announced that he was very concerned that the government had given Hughes $40m for the development and production of two aircraft that had never been delivered. Brewster also pointed out the President Franklin D. Roosevelt had overruled his military experts in order to hand out the contracts to Hughes for the F-11 and HK-1 (also known as the Spruce Goose). Brewster also pointed out that Hughes had provided "softening-up parties" for government officials. Howard paid movie starlets $200 to attend these parties. Their duties included swimming nude in Hughes's swimming pool. Julius Krug, the chief of the War Production Board, was someone who often attended these parties. One congressman who was also a frequent guest at Hughes's home claimed: "If those girls were paid two hundred dollars, they were greatly underpaid"." ........................................................... ...Modern styles emphasize curves and cleavage. Stoppard points to Jane Russell and, believe it or not, industrialist Howard Hughes, as early contributors to this style. Early cleavage enhancers included an inflatable bra that was blown up with a straw and plugged with a stopper. Hughes designed a better garment to show off Russell's cleavage in 1943's "The Outlaw." Hughes built aircraft and interested some of his best engineers in designing the first cantilevered bra for Russell. The bra, which lifts and separates the breasts, helped Russell to become a legend. Modern brassieres often mimic Russell's style by creating curvy silhouettes and feminine shapes. Padded bras are in vogue now, outselling most other styles.

[hattend]

I really don't want to support DiCrappio by going to see this movie but the storyline and the focus on Howard's aviation exploits really interest me. I was going to see this film on opening day but I'm starting to think I will wait and make my decision based on word of mouth.

It may be the 21st century's "Top Gun" where you get the DVD and fast forward through all the parts that don't have airplanes in it.

I'll wait and see.

[theFIRMbss]

> the storyline and the focus on Howard's aviation exploits really interest me

I would love to see a level-headed movie on Hughes and his life. But DiCaprio and bizarro casting like Gwen Stefani as Jean Harlow makes me wonder why anyone thinks Scorsese is cool . . .

[weegee]

May I suggest Howard Hughes' original "Top Gun", Hell's Angels?

[weegee]

Gwen Stefani is cast to draw the young audiences who know her as a pop singer with some "retro" style.

There are plenty of more able chippies in Hollywood who could have done more justice to the role of Jean Harlow.

Celebrity casting is where Hollywood is today (just look at how "name" actors are cast in animated films rather than voice actors).

[weegee]

Houston PING

[weegee]

http://www.1940airterminal.org/

The 1940 Air Terminal Museum
at William P. Hobby Airport

8325 Travelair Rd, Houston, Texas 77061
(713) 454-1940

The Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society

---

July, 1938:
After setting a new speed record flying his Lockheed 14 Super Electra around the world, Howard Hughes visits Houston for a 3 day celebration. During a banquet at the Rice Hotel, the City announces that Houston Municipal Airport will be renamed Howard Hughes Municipal Airport. A few months later, it is learned that the airport will be disqualified for Federal grant money if it is named after a living person and the name is changed back to Houston Municipal Airport.

[Dog Gone]

This is a movie I'll miss. I like history, but I don't like Hollywood, DiCaprio or even Hughes.

He was a Hollywood freak long before Michael Jackson moved the bar.

[TheGrimReaper]

Speaking of movies.... Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was nominated for...uh...NOTHING.

No surprise; it wasn't PC and certainly didn't fit the Hollyweird template.

[anymouse]

The story of Howard Hughes is a great story, but DiCaprio just doesn't cut it as Hughes at any point in his life. DiCaprio is stuck in the "Teen Beat" mode of acting.

Now if they had asked Tom Hanks to play Hughes, oh maybe 10 years ago, he could do a good job of it. Hanks is getting too old to do the younger parts now. John Trevolta possibly could of done a convincing Hughes, only because of his acting and flying skills.

[GOPcapitalist]

Could be a great film...except for the fact that they cast Leonardo DiFaggio as Hughes.

[bigsigh]

We are all in awe of your early viewing of the film so that you can report your opinions of Ms. Stefani's performance based on first hand knowledge. Thank you.

[bigsigh]

I don't know if this movie will kill our interest in HH, but Jim Carrey was going to do a flick until Scorcese beat him to the punch. If the film ends in the 40's there may be room for a part 2. A younger Eastwood would have been interesting.

[weegee]

We are truly living in remarkable times to be graced with such a multiple talent as Ms. Stefani. And here I thought that she was just a pop singer who chased one musical fad to the next.

[bigsigh]

I'll reserve my opinion of her portrayal of Harlow until I actually see it. But I'm glad you're here to warn off the others about it. Thanks for the service.

[weegee]

Rock and Roll PING! email Weegee to get on/off this list (or grab it yourself to PING the rest)

This generation's Madonna has been tapped to play another generation's Marilyn Monroe...

[Sans-Culotte]

Scorsese used to be "cool", but he's past his prime. Taxi Driver, Raging bull and Godfellas are impressive films. His later films often have flashes of brilliance (Gangs of New York, e.g.) but they are not on the whole, successful films, IMO.