Monday, 06 February 2012 07:53

In a recent pre-Golden Globes interview George Clooney said that he would be amazed if his latest movie did not find itself up for best film Oscar, because “…it’s that good.”

Monday, 06 February 2012 07:53

J. Edgar

Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Judi Dench

Leonardo DiCaprio’s baby face from Titanic days may be ageing quite gracefully, but is still young enough to allow him – with careful camera work – to play J Edgar Hoover, the infamous founder of the FBI, from his late teens. Six to seven hours each day spent in the make-up chair having prosthetics applied then enables the actor to play J Edgar up to his death at the age of 77 and look convincing, in what is described as a very powerful performance. The movie charts Hoover’s rise to power in the 1920s and the corruption and brutality he employed to make sure that his grip on power never weakened until his death in 1972. He is still held in reverence by the FBI and others despite the emergence of unsavoury information about how he abused his powers, kept exhaustive files on many innocent people and was prepared to use blackmail at every  turn.

Hoover was a lifelong bachelor, as was his assistant Clyde Tolson. The two are buried side by side in Washington’s Congressional Cemetery and the movie takes a look at the relationship without resolving the rumours about his sexuality. But it is more about Hoover’s obsession with power and secrets and his increasing paranoia than his love life. And it also looks at the relationship he had with his toxic mother Anna – a powerful performance from Judi Dench.

American Hollywood watchers reckon that this is the one that DiCaprio is pinning his hopes on for Oscar glory. The actor has been nominated three times(twice for best actor in Scorsese’s The Aviator and in Blood Diamond, and once as best supporting actor, aged 19, for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape). But George Clooney and his movie The Descendents picked up best film and actor at the Golden Globes on Sunday – The Globes have been seen as a shoo-in for Oscar glory, so Leo might be feeling a bit worried this week.