Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best for Ages: 16+
Ages 3 - 7: Red
Ages 8 - 12: Red
Ages 13 - 17: Yellow
Violence Amount: Yellow
Violence Portrayal: Green
Fear: Yellow
Illegal / Harmful: Green
Language: Yellow
Nudity: Yellow
Sex: Yellow
Review:
This film is a 3-hour epic dealing with the life of Howard
Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) from the years 1927 through 1947.
Martin Scorsese directs the film. Hughes was orphaned as
a teenager and left quite wealthy. He began to produce movies
(Hell's Angels), date movie stars, design and test pilot
airplanes, founded TWA Airlines, owned seven Las Vegas Casinos,
risked his fortune and made more fortunes. He was a world
famous personality. He had so much money that no one could
tell him what to do. He dated movie stars Katherine Hepburn
(Cate Blanchett) and Ave Gardner (Kate Beckinsale) but he
never married. Hughes had a great passion for airplanes.
He did test pilot his own planes, which led to a near fatal
crash. There are several perilous scenes involving the planes.
The characters do drink and smoke, but that is common for
the times. There is some language, thematic elements, sexual
content and nudity. Hughes suffered from obsessive-compulsive
disorder. It grew worse as he aged. He became a recluse
who never saw or touched anyone. At one point, he locked
himself in a room naked, urinated into bottles and would
see no one. Unless your kids love aviation or know about
Howard Hughes, this movie is more for adults. It is well
acted and written but it is a bit too long. What would be
a great thing about flying? Does Howard ever think about
other people's feelings? Is that ok if you are rich?
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She graduated from
the University of Minnesota with a double major
in sociology and psychology. Married with a family,
she has remained in the Minneapolis area.
Linda has been a lover of movies since she
was a small child. This love of film eventually
brought her to the point in life where she is
now, a film critic. She was featured on WCCO
radio for three years on the “Dark in the
Morning” show with Dark Star.
In December of 2001, Linda became the film
critic for the syndicated “Ruth Koscielak
Show”.
Linda sees over 150 movies a year and has
had the opportunity to interview a number of
directors and actors when they are in town.
She has also appeared on a public access show
called the "Cinema Judge" and has
ventured into writing for "Cinestar"
magazine in September 2002. The Twin Cities
movie magazine is available, for free, at most
local Blockbuster's and local movie cheaters.
As one of the few female reviewers in the Twin
Cities area, she brings a unique point of view
to her reviews. Linda has raised two children,
a boy and a girl, and knows what they like in
movies and what is appropriate. Hopefully, her
reviews will help your family in choosing where
to next spend your movie-going dollar.
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Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She graduated from
the University of Minnesota with a double major
in sociology and psychology. Married with a family,
she has remained in the Minneapolis area.
