Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio (Howard Hughes), Cate Blanchett (Katharine Hepburn), Kate Beckinsale (Ava Gardner), John C. Reilly (Noah Dietrich), Alec Baldwin (Juan Trippe)
Howard battles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (worrying about germs, washing his hands incessantly, freaking out about dirt, repeating the same phrases) increases dramatically when he is under constant investigation from the FBI because he refused to sell TWA to Pan Am (whom Senator Ralph Brewster is in affiliation with secretly). Senator Brewster (Alan Alda) finds enough dirt on Howard to claim he profited from the war and never delivered the planes that America paid him to build. During the hearing, Howard admits almost everything that he is accused of, but then challenges the Senator’s real intentions. He asks Senator questions and mentions his relationship with Juan Trippe (who had given the Senator gifts or “bribes”). He turns it around and says this is all about Pan Am. Howard reveals he used most of his own money to build the planes and is way more than what the government had given him. He points out how other companies had received way more money (on military projects and weapons), but never delivered either. He tells them that he was never in this for the money, he builds planes because he loves flying. After the hearing, Howard tries to fly his giant Hercules plane and succeeds. As he celebrates, he starts repeating a phrase over and over again, so Noah takes him into the bathroom where no one will see the way he’s acting. As Noah runs to get a doctor, Howard continues to repeat the same phrase even as the background fades to black.
Personal comments about this movie? Despite the brilliant directing work by Martin Scorsese, outstanding performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, and Alan Alda, and the wonderful cinematography, this film falls short from being truly great. I thought it was way too long in regards to the fact that I learned nothing about Howard Hughes’ life except he loved airplanes and flying and he had a obsessive-compulsive disorder. What was his relationship with his parents like? How did having money change him? How did his experiences change him? When did the disorder first emerge and why did it take so long to interfere with his life (considering how bad his phobia was)? I wish the film could’ve explored these questions. I found it shallow and I didn’t feel like I cared about any of the characters. The Jean Harlow character had such a small part I don’t think they even needed to include her in the film. Howard’s relationship with Ava Gardner was hardly explored. It would’ve been better if the relationship was explored a little deeper. Only his relationship with Katharine Hepburn was noteworthy and interesting.
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