J. Edgar
Rent & Buy
As the face of law enforcement in the United States for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career, and his life.
What critics thought
Critics were sharply divided on Clint Eastwood's Hoover biopic: nearly everyone agreed that DiCaprio disappears into the role, but the film around him drew fire for a shapeless narrative, questionable aging makeup, and a script that never quite illuminates what drove its subject. Supporters found it a quietly serious, ambitious portrait; detractors saw it as inert and ham-fisted, a bureaucrat's life that remains stubbornly opaque on screen.
“fully-realized, subtle and persuasive performance, hinting at more than Hoover ever revealed, perhaps even to himself”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Eastwood's touch light and sure, his judgment sound, the moments of pathos held just long enough.”
David Denby·The New Yorker
“Although hardly flawless, Eastwood's biopic is his richest, most ambitious movie since Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers.”
J. Hoberman·Village Voice
“Any movie in which the longtime FBI honcho features as the central character must supply some insight into what made him tick, or suffer from the reality that the Bureau's exploits were far more interesting than the bureaucrat who ran it – a dilemma J. Edgar never rises above.”
Peter Debruge·Variety
“It's too bad J. Edgar is so shapeless and turgid and ham-handed, so rich in bad lines and worse readings.”
David Edelstein·New York Magazine
Genres
Drama, Crime, History
Cast & Crew
Clint EastwoodDirector
Leonardo DiCaprioJohn Edgar Hoover
Armie HammerClyde Tolson
Naomi WattsHelen Gandy
Josh LucasCharles Lindbergh
Josh HamiltonRobert Irwin
Judi DenchAnna Marie Hoover
Geoff PiersonMitchell Palmer
Gunner WrightDwight Eisenhower
Dermot MulroneyColonel Schwarzkopf
Kaitlyn DeverPalmer's Daughter
Adam DriverWalter Lyle
Ed WestwickAgent SmithClint EastwoodComposer
Dustin Lance BlackWriter
Tom SternCinematographyJ. Edgar
As the face of law enforcement in the United States for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career, and his life.
What critics thought
Critics were sharply divided on Clint Eastwood's Hoover biopic: nearly everyone agreed that DiCaprio disappears into the role, but the film around him drew fire for a shapeless narrative, questionable aging makeup, and a script that never quite illuminates what drove its subject. Supporters found it a quietly serious, ambitious portrait; detractors saw it as inert and ham-fisted, a bureaucrat's life that remains stubbornly opaque on screen.
“fully-realized, subtle and persuasive performance, hinting at more than Hoover ever revealed, perhaps even to himself”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Eastwood's touch light and sure, his judgment sound, the moments of pathos held just long enough.”
David Denby·The New Yorker
“Although hardly flawless, Eastwood's biopic is his richest, most ambitious movie since Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers.”
J. Hoberman·Village Voice
“Any movie in which the longtime FBI honcho features as the central character must supply some insight into what made him tick, or suffer from the reality that the Bureau's exploits were far more interesting than the bureaucrat who ran it – a dilemma J. Edgar never rises above.”
Peter Debruge·Variety
“It's too bad J. Edgar is so shapeless and turgid and ham-handed, so rich in bad lines and worse readings.”
David Edelstein·New York Magazine
Genres
Drama, Crime, History
Cast & Crew
Clint EastwoodDirectorLeonardo DiCaprioJohn Edgar HooverArmie HammerClyde TolsonNaomi WattsHelen GandyJosh LucasCharles LindberghJosh HamiltonRobert IrwinJudi DenchAnna Marie HooverGeoff PiersonMitchell PalmerGunner WrightDwight EisenhowerDermot MulroneyColonel SchwarzkopfKaitlyn DeverPalmer's DaughterAdam DriverWalter LyleEd WestwickAgent SmithClint EastwoodComposerDustin Lance BlackWriterTom SternCinematographyRent & Buy