Some Late Thoughts on J. Edgar

So I finally had the opportunity to see Leo DeCaprio's film J. Edgar last week. I'm trying to remember who it was that told me to skip it at the theatrical release. When I heard that J. Edgar was boring, I really should have read up on reviews instead of taking a single word-of-mouth response as law. But I was still wary after the last fiasco of a biography I forced myself through, W. Don't remember it? That's because it's a film about former president George W. Bush that tells us everything we already knew: he's a narcissistic caveman with delusions of grandeur and a 5th grade reading level. But W was a film both hamfisted and overlong, whereas J. Edgar clearly tries for something bigger.
It's a delicate process creating a film that chronicles the life of another. When creating a biopic of J. Edgar Hoover, first head of the FBI, it would be easy to simply run through his childhood, touch on the rumors of his alleged homosexuality, crossdressing, and Oedipal Complex, and then blast out the praises of a long and accomplished career, culminating in a sad but triumphant funeral that ultimately throws his role as a protector of the people into sharp relief.
But let's be honest. That movie would be boring as hell.
No, instead we allow Clint Eastwood's directing skills to give us the business, regretful old man style. Eastwood's direction keeps the characterization at the forefront, allowing Leo DiCaprio's talent to shine through.

The most captivating thing about the film is its dedication. It's dedicated to painting a scene from a time unlike our own, before the necessities of fingerprints and social security numbers and stringent standards for crime scene investigation. It's easy to forget there was a time before all that, and as such the time period seems almost alien. The film is also dedicated to creating a set of mesmerizing characters. I'm always interested in films set before the rise of modern feminism because I've noticed that a lot of directors try to take the approach of "show ALL the sexism" from time to time, even if that isn't necessarily the film's focus.
 However, a film like this also has to deal with lots of gay and genderqueer themes in a manner which is tasteful, more of a challenge than I think a lot of critics give credit for. Ultimately writer Dustin Lance Black (also the scribe behind Milk) took a more subtle route, matching the theme of the "hush, hush" time period perfectly. Nothing like a gentle progression of events to make you realize you're rooting for Hoover and his second in command, Clyde Tolson, to make out, even though to portray that would ultimately betray the film. Additionally, the heavy themes of control, regret, and sacrifice, combined with lots of communist fear and blackmail, make for a surprisingly gripping piece.
 So, to summarize, J. Edgar is definitely a film I recommend, though I would definitely save it for mature audiences. Really, I'd like to see it more widely distributed. As I was discussing the film with a friend, she cocked her head to one side and said, "Oh, yeah, wasn't he president or something?"