J Edgar (****1/2)

Clint Eastwood has been trudging down a questionable road in his recent filmmaking, as such I was hesitant to see J Edgar, his latest film about the late Director of the FBI, but coming out of the theater, I was enthralled and astonished. Here is perhaps not Eastwood's finest achievement behind the camera, but it can surely be ranked right up there with his best.

The film is told in flashbacks, flash forwards, voice over, memories, and other such filmic devices, all working to create the world J Edgar Hoover himself envisioned. Spanning upwards of 6 decades, we see the time from Hoover's initial hiring at the Bureau right up to his sudden death. Written by Dustin Lance Black, Oscar-winning screenwriter of Milk, the film has a slow but meticulous pacing, even though it stretches over 2 hours in length.

Leonardo DiCaprio, one of the world's most accomplished actors, is unsurprisingly excellent in the role. Aside from the shocking makeup work used on all the main actors, DiCaprio disappears in the performance, with his accent and nuances very much thought out and crafted. At times I was distracted by his acting, perhaps it comes across as a bit melodramatic, or even a bit too Oscar-friendly. As we know, Clint Eastwood has a very good friendship with the Academy Awards - this film looks to be no exception.

The stand out performance of the film, though, is Armie Hammer, fresh off last year's The Social Network. Here he plays Clyde Tolson, first-hand man for Hoover and eventual lover. His elegant poise and charm elevate the scenes he is in, and though his aging makeup is potentially overdone, his mannerisms in old age are uncanny and wholly believable. Naomi Watts also gives a beautiful, albeit limited, performance as Hoover's personal secretary. Were she given more screen time, I believe her performance could have been astonishing.

Much controversy surrounded the film's depiction of Hoover's homosexuality. Afterall, it was commonly known that he and Tolson were together, not to mention unspeculated rumors of cross-dressing. The film remains un exploitative and is tasteful in its presentation of their relationship. No more than a kiss or two is shared between the two men on screen, and yet their love is never doubted. Dustin Lance Black has obviously had experience dealing with historically gay men, but this time sexual orientation is not the film's concern. Rather, it is the portrayal of J Edgar Hoover as a power-hungry and flawed individual, slipping closer and closer to the edge in his later years.

Can DiCaprio finally win his long-awaited Oscar for this film? It certainly seems like a possibility. After all, if there's anything Oscar loves it's historical performances of gay individuals with personality flaws and unusual accents. The film stretches on with an epic feel yet is poignant in its subject matter. While the reviews this far have been polarizing, I found J Edgar to be a cinematic marvel.

(Awards potential: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Hammer), Best Original Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup)