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The Aviator (2004)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, John C. Reilly, and Alec Baldwin. Cinematography by Robert Richardson. Edited by Thelma Schoonmaker. Produced by Sandy Climan, Charles Evans Jr., Graham King, and Michael Mann. Written by John Logan. Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Born in the early twentieth century, Howard Hughes (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) was one of the most successful, influential, and fascinating people of his time. Just out of his teenage years, Hughes spent nearly his entire inherited fortune producing his directorial debut, Hell’s Angels. The film’s success thrust him into the spotlight where he would mingle with Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars.
Hughes would remain involved in the film business throughout his life, but most of his attention was then directed towards his true passion; aviation. He made headlines around the world when his Hughes H-1B broke all speed records and made him the fastest man on the planet. During the war he designed and developed the largest cargo transport plane ever built, a giant he called “The Hercules” but is now known as the “Spruce Goose”.
He also nearly died when his experimental spy plane, the XF-11, crashed into a Beverly Hills neighborhood. Despite his achievements, Hughes spent much of his life plagued by obsessive compulsive behavior and paranoia which led to severe depression and eventual isolation from the outside world.
Producing a film chronicling the amazing life of billionaire Howard Hughes had been on Leonardo DiCaprio’s wish list for many years. He started developing the script in the late 1990’s with Michael Mann, who had initially intended to direct the film. But three consecutive biopics proved to be too many (it would have followed The Insider and Ali) and Mann decided to step back and take a producer’s role instead.
While shooting the nineteenth century epic Gangs of New York, DeCaprio presented the material Martin Scorsese who was immediately taken with it. Scorsese was quickly on board and the wheels on The Aviator were set in motion.
Being the consummate cinephile, Scorsese was able to bring a life and energy to this big budget period piece that only he could have. Not only were The Aviator’s sets and costumes meticulously designed to match the styles and fashions of the first half of the twentieth century, but the film processes and color pallets were altered to represent their respective eras as well. The look of two-strip and three-strip Technicolor was recreated with cleverly placed lighting and digital manipulation to give the viewer a cinematic flashback to Hughes’ glory days.
Also, through a combination of miniatures and digital effects, Scorsese was able to fill the picture with incredible sequences and images that compliment the story without overpowering it. The Aviator may not be the most personal project in Scorsese’s filmography, but that didn’t prevent him from producing the hell out of it. It is surly one of his best pictures in over a decade and undoubtedly one of the finest pictures of the year.
Budget: $116,000,000
Total US Gross: $TBD
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 170 Minutes
US Release Date: 12/25/04
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Awards:
Academy Awards:
Won for best art direction, costume design, editing, cinematography, and supporting actress. Nominated for best sound, original screenplay, supporting actor, actor, director, and picture.
Golden Globes:
Won for best score, best actor in a dramatic role, and best dramatic picture.
Nominated for screenplay, best supporting actress, and best director.
Directors Guild of America:
Nominated for the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures.
Writers Guild of America:
Nominated for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
Tagline: Some Men Dream The Future. He Built It.
Quote: “It's not me; it’s the United States government. We just beat Germany and Japan. Who the hell are you?”
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