Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, stars as J. Edgar Hoover, the man who would rise as the most powerful man in America. However, behind closed doors, he kept dark secrets that could destroy his life and career.
“J. Edgar,” is a drama movie (not a gay film as some other critics say) that explores the public and private life of one of the most powerful, controversial and enigmatic figures of the 20th century.
When I watched the critically-acclaimed “J. Edgar” movie, I have no idea who he is. And I guess it helps because when I finally saw the film, I didn’t miss a single scene because it gets more interesting til its end. But what really impressed me is how Leonardo de Carpio gives life to J. Edgar Hoover. I can’t see Leonardo de Carpio in his character. The accent, the acting, and even his make-over are all superb. I was disappointed that he was snubbed at this year’s Academy Awards. But at least, he was nominated at AACTA International Award for Best Actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, and Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.
But who exactly is J. Edgar Hoover? What’s so interesting about his life? Actually, based from the movie, there’s only two reasons: what he contributed for FBI and his controversial love life.
According to an article posted in Wikipedia, John Edgar Hoover (January 1, 1895 – May 2, 1972) was the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States. Appointed director of the Bureau of Investigation—predecessor to the FBI—in 1924, he was instrumental in founding the FBI in 1935, where he remained director until his death in 1972. Hoover is credited with building the FBI into a large and efficient crime-fighting agency, and with instituting a number of modernizations to police technology, such as a centralized fingerprint file and forensic laboratories.
Late in life and after his death, Hoover became a controversial figure as evidence of his secretive actions became public. His critics have accused him of exceeding the jurisdiction of the FBI. He used the FBI to harass political dissenters and activists, to amass secret files on political leaders, and to collect evidence using illegal methods. FBI directors are now limited to one 10-year term, subject to extension by the United States Senate, because of his long and controversial tenure.
Since the 1940s, rumors have circulated that Hoover was gay. It has been suggested that Clyde Tolson, an associate director of the FBI who was Hoover’s heir, may have been his lover. Hoover hunted down and threatened anyone who made insinuations about his sexuality.
But in the movie, director Clint Eastwood openly showed the ‘gay side’ of J. Edgar but it’s not actually the selling point of the movie. It was actually the secrets and lies that J. Edgar did in his entire life.
J. Hoover was noted as sometimes being capricious in his leadership; he frequently fired FBI agents, singling out those who he thought “looked stupid like truck drivers” or he considered to be “pinheads”. He wanted everyone to be like him, or look up to him literally and figuratively.
J. Hooever is actually a insecure man and is living in a fantasy he created for himself. But what really is his motives? Here are some quotes that came directly from him:
“I have worked too hard to just watch the bad guys capture the spotlight.”
“What’s important at this time is to re-clarify the difference between hero and villain. Even great men can be corrupted”
Also doing an outstanding performance in the movie is Armie Hammer who play as Clyde Tolson – the fierce ‘lover’ of J. Edgar. They have scenes together that will either shock you or secretly admire. Don’t miss out the most emotionally-charged scene of the movie wherein J. Edgar and Clyde Tolson almost broke up.
And if there’s one line that makes it memorable for me is the one sweet line Clyde Tolson said to J. Edgar before he accepted the job as Associate Director of FBI and J. Edgar’s alter-ego: “In one condition, in good times or bad times, we will never miss lunch or dinner together.”
J. Edgar stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench, Armie Hammer, Josh Lucas, Damon Herriman, Ken Howard, Jeffrey Donovan, Ed Westwick, Stephen Root. Under the direction of Clint Eastwood. Still showing in theaters worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
