The Aviator Movie Review

by Lewis Robinson

There are some movies that have been called classics over the years that don't really stand up to the hype. Others become cult classics due to their popularity growing over time, while others will stay on the Top 10 lists for years to come. The Aviator is one of the most recent movies to be deemed a classic by many lists, but does it deserve that categorization?

An Aviation Story

While aviation plays a background role in The Aviator, its role is integral to the story of Howard Hughes’ rise and inevitable destruction. What could be a more apt metaphor for the bright, uninhibited future of a handsome heir than an airplane successfully taking off - and what could be more appropriate to portray the eventual demise than the multiple airplane crashes he survives, which could have perhaps been avoided with a borescope inspection. If you're looking for a movie about the history of aviation, you may want to look elsewhere. But in The Aviator, you'll catch a glimpse of the role aviation has played in history and how well it expresses the optimism and ambition of that time. 

Genius and Madness

One of the most compelling types of stories is one that explores the inner workings of a genius's mind, especially as it descends into madness. A Beautiful Mind is one of these types of movies and it's uniquely captivating as a result. The Aviator portrays Howard Hughes as a haunted heir, who used his money and skills as an aviator to gain popularity and fame. Because the film opens with Hughes in his later years, unhappy and dethroned, the rest of the film's glossiness and optimism is tinged with the knowledge of what is to come. 

Scorsese's Touch

Director Martin Scorsese has a name in the business that is likely to attract movie-goers based on his former conquests such as Taxi Driver and The Godfather. In fact, if you were to think of ten classic movies off of the top of your head, you'd probably list at least one of Scorsese's films. Scorcese was the perfect director for The Aviator, given his ability to work with period settings and create a glamorous setting for his stories. Scorcese most likely encountered Hughes-like men in his childhood and looked up to them, only to see them fall apart as their lifestyle and unhealthy ambition caught up to them.

Portrayal of Women

Hughes was known for dating a wide variety of famous actresses, such as Ava Gardner and Katharine Hepburn, so The Aviator gets a fair shot both at portraying women and portraying famous stars from a bygone age. Rather than these women being a long line of pretty faces that serve to make the film a little more interesting, Scorsese shows how each different woman held their own in the relationship and played their unique role in the unfolding of Hughe's story. These women aren't hapless starlets in early Hollywood, but shrewd and intelligent professionals - all but Jean Harlow, that is, who becomes little more than a bra joke by the end of the film as Hughes becomes obsessed with her physical appearance. 

Use of Special Effects

In a film portraying both real events and a bygone era, it's difficult to find places where special effects can be successful. Scorcese manages to accomplish this in Hughe's aviation scenes, achieving lifelike portrayals of early aviation that add to the film rather than distract from the overall plot. What could easily become a corny stunt scene becomes a powerful display of exactly how off-kilter Hughes needed to be to attempt what he did, and how amazing the results were of his unhinged attempts.

The Aviator ultimately accomplishes what many films dream of but don't achieve - getting people to sit through over two hours of storytelling without wishing they were in the next theater over. Even if it's not on every Top 10 list, it's a must-see for anyone who wants to see a good story.