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J. Edgar
- Review Date: November 9, 2011
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Well-acted biopic tackles complex character; OK for teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Clint Eastwood-directed biopic about longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is rated R primarily for a couple of brief but notable scenes of strong language (including "f--k"). J. Edgar focuses on both Hoover's career and his personal life, especially the never-defined relationship with longtime companion Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer). While the movie raises questions about Hoover's sexuality that it doesn't answer, there's no actual sex in it (though one scene features apparent recorded noises of an amorous couple). Expect a few violent fist fights and shoot outs.
What's the story?
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as J. Edgar Hoover, the man who led the FBI for almost 50 years, through eight presidents and three wars. Hoover devoted his life to the bureau, though his personal animosity toward minorities and radicals sometimes led to operations of dubious legality. J. EDGAR focuses on both Hoover's career and his personal life, especially his never-defined relationship with colleague/longtime companion Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer). Naomi Watts co-stars as Hoover's personal secretary, Helen Gandy, who was privy to many of his secrets, especially his personal files that supposedly contained damning secrets about many of the country's most powerful people.
Is it any good?
J. Edgar is a curious mix. It's slow, almost glacial, in parts, and then quickly, shockingly moving in others; it's cerebral, almost distant, and then emotionally raw. This much, though, isn't up for debate: DiCaprio's masterful performance. Insecure, aggressive, fragile, ambitious, and stunted, Hoover is a very complicated character -- and one who's very difficult to pull off. But DiCaprio leaves nothing on the table; he's all in, and it's a gamble he wins. He's matched by Hammer, who demonstrates again that he's an actor who understands nuance and delivers it. And Watts, too, proves why she's one of the best actresses around. Her withering stares wither, indeed, and her pitying glances are painful.
Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black takes on a mountain of a subject and mostly conquers it; he distills much of it manageably, if not always successfully. The Lindbergh case takes up a chunk of the storyline -- perhaps too much. Hoover's mother, played frighteningly, winningly close to the bone by grande dame Judi Dench, is so horrific that you have to wonder whether J. Edgar is laying too much of Hoover's dysfunction at her feet. But the abiding bond between Hoover and Tolson grounds much of this beautifully filmed history in emotion. It is by no means fact that Hoover and Tolson were lovers. But in J. Edgar, they're heartbreaking.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about Hoover's relationship with Tolson. Were they friends or more than friends? Do you think the film is asking a question that can never really be answered? Should it be?
Was Hoover a reliable narrator? Do you think his memories are accurate?
Do you consider Hoover a role model? What does the movie say about the motivations of people in a position of power? Are they always noble?
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AGE
OK, great acting
J. Edgar is an interesting, if somewhat average, film about (as the title says) J. Edgar Hoover. The acting, however, is great, especially Leonardo Dicaprio's performance as the title role. Expect a few uses of strong language, a few shootings with blood, a couple of fistfights, and some drinking and smoking. There is a brief scene that shows the shadows of two people having sex, and an audiotape with sex sounds recorded on it is played. There are strong implications that Hoover and Tolson are gay. Suggested MPAA rating: R for some violence, brief language and some sexual content.
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AGE
unfairly rated R
1 f word, 2 uses of c**ksucker, brief non-graphic violence (10 seconds)
in my opinion, that does not make a film R rated.
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AGE
Why on Earth is this rated R!?
My rating: PG-13 for some brief violence, smoking, a few instances of language, and for a scene of sexual content.
[NOTE: This film should not be rated R. It thoroughly screams "PG-13". The MPAA gave it an R rating for "brief strong language". Well, the only R-rated language I heard was four uses of "s--t", two of "c--ksucker", and one of "f--king". According to the MPAA themselves, a film must have no less than four F-bombs to achieve an automatic R rating. So that doesn't work. And this film is has a good amount of more violence than it does profanity, and there was a surprising sex scene (not noted by the MPAA!), which we see through shadows and a tape recording (on which we hear a woman groaning).]
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AGE
Read
Rated R: Fistfights, Sexual References, Language, and Drinking
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AGE
Gr8t
Good Movie!! Almost no problems and good role models.
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AGE
J. Edgar.
This film does not make you a better christian nor does it glorify god in any way so why should you see it? The answer is you shouldn't because it is a waste of two hours, in which you SHOULD be studying gods word and praising him.
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AGE
Hoover's important, but conflicted, historical position
Hoover is portrayed as arrogant and somewhat bullying towards people he doesn't agree with or with whom he does not share common heritage. In the manner of many who doubt their own status, he demands extreme loyalty of his employees and close confidants, even when ethical boundaries are clearly being crossed. He is shown to be rabidly prejudicial and narrow minded, and uses fear as a potent political tactic to get his way. His "secret files" on famous people, clearly shown to be kept as possible blackmail material, were just another facet of his strong need to control and dominate. His use of this type of material against Martin Luther King is shown in all its perverse detail and Hoover literally drips with disgust and hatred for the famous civil rights figure. Youngsters get a full view of the corrupt and viscous tactics of government agents.
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AGE
Eastwood biography is very well made, tough on icons
Clint Eastwood's biopic of the great founding father of modern Americas FBI department J. Edgar Hoover, comes fall circle in the most dramatic ways, in J. Edgar. This is a beautifully photographed film, so, unfortunately, even though I obviously don't know the name of the person, at all, I would still like to say job very, very well done on the cinematography in the film, and I also think that it most definitely deserves a Academy Award Nomination for that, as well. But, with the movie in total, this is a very long 142 minute biography that sadly wears out it's welcome long before it is over, and suffers from the fact that it actually rather soils the personas of some of the movies most influential real-life icons. Still, despite the R Rating, it is fairly tame, but there are still a few big parental problems here: Now, first off, it depends on how comfortable you are with homosexuality. I saw this with my family, so the it was pretty awkward. Also, there is one very graphic sex scene, and even though it is only scene in silhouette, it is still fairly explicit. Also, there is frequent violence scene in historical flashbacks and context, and can get a little bit upsetting at times. Finally, there is some occasionally casual smoking and drinking (very appropriate for the era), and, there is also extremely infrequent but moderate profanity including f--k, jesus christ, c-cks-cker. So, if you are interested in seeing this movie, than I advise you to go and see it, because it is a very well made movie. Just don't expect Clint Eastwood to lay off the icon characters personas, any time soon.
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AGE
great teches about the history of j edgar hover
great hsitorical resprisentation brief strong profanity ( C-cksukcer is used twice once by j edgg file"ar hoover and the other by richard nixon f-cking is used by nixon the line was "that old c-cksucker hand me the f-ckin file"
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AGE
Maaaaammmaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's Leonardo DUH, his movies r always rated R but watevr sooo anyways coming for a 13yr old watching this with my family which has 1 yr olds I would say.... Bad sexual scenes with girls going ughh uh ug.... And language not to much though well there ya go :)
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| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Clint Eastwood |
| Cast: | Armie Hammer, Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 137 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 9, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | February 21, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | brief strong language |
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