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I really loved "J. Edgar." It was everything I expected it to be and more. DiCaprio was absolutely perfect as J. Edgar Hoover. Older Edgar reminded me favorably of Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance in "Capote," and Collin Firth in "A Single Man," while younger Edgar reminded me of Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain."
The screenplay by Dustin Lance Black ("Milk") was superb and Clint Eastwood's directing ("Gran Turino," "Letters from Iwo Jima," "Mystic River," "Changeling") shone as usual. Arnie Hammer was also a surprise star as Tolson. As young Tolson, the scene where Tolson and Edgar fight displays Hammer's amazing range as the normally calm Tolson flies into a rage when Edgar does something unacceptable. Hammer is also flawless as older Tolson, capturing his frailness and evoking beautiful later life scenes between Edgar and himself.
"J. Edgar" was first and foremost a love story. I enjoyed how the film switched between past and present, drawing historical parallels, weaving a comprehensive story. Young Edgar and Tolson from the era of despicable Communist bombers reminiscent of today's terrorists, charismatic mobsters and the Lindbergh baby kidnapping that transfixed the nation was beautifully juxtaposed with elderly Edgar and Tolson still at the organization they helped create, yet going after false positives like MLK. I found the imagery of both eras arresting and breathtaking. Eastwood achieved his purpose of transporting me back to a different world.
What made the film powerful was what it made me feel. We remember films like "Fargo" and others for what they make us feel. Although Edgar the man was far from perfect, I'm so glad Black decided to take on the story of this controversial character and tell his story to the world. The film took a man who had been forgotten as a villain and made him human again. I could empathize with Edgar when his mother dissuaded him from coming out. DiCaprio captured the pain of this inner struggle perfectly.
I'm also glad the film didn't demonize Edgar's mother (Judi Dench). Besides that one scene, I didn't find her like Lady Macbeth at all. I think she genuinely loved her son - and still loved him in spite of knowing he was gay. I'm sure she knew Edgar was gay but she would have done her son no good by letting him come out. She only had horror stories like what happened to Pinkus to go by and she didn't want that to happen to her son.
Edgar's story really shows that in spite of being in the closet, gay children can and do still love their parents very much and want to please them. I find this depiction both realistic and accurate. I admire the filmmakers bravery to depict such a complex relationship honestly, despite the pain gay people in the closet continue to feel.
There were a lot of rumors and hype following this film. People questioning whether it had been de-gayed or over-gayed. I feel "J. Edgar" did the rumors surrounding Edgar's homosexuality justice. Black and Eastwood did not blow Tolson and Edgar's relationship out of proportion. People who watched the film for the shock value of seeing a gay romance did not get the point of the film. I'm sure such people were disappointed.
The beauty of the film was that it wasn't a PFLAG advertisement. The beauty of the film lay in the details. "J.Edgar" effectively carved out a space for gay people's lives in an era where being gay didn't exist.
For example, Edgar asking Tolson to be his second-in-command was as close a marriage proposal for gays in that day. You can really see Hammer's acting here, as Tolson's eyes light up and his face is full of bliss. Their life together is closest thing to a gay marriage in those days.
Edgar and Gandy's (Naomi Watts) scene in the library was as close as close as anyone coming out to each other in those days. Edgar tries to seal the deal as having Gandy as his beard, but Gandy says she never wishes to be married (in those days as good as a woman saying she was gay) but will stand by Edgar as his secretary for life. In the end, they both keep each other's secrets. Also worth noting is Gandy's tight-lipped response to Edgar informing her that the FBI would be going after Eleanor Roosevelt and her lesbian activities at the time. Gandy is obviously incensed that Edgar would go after one of their own.
People who weren't watching carefully wouldn't have picked up on these subtleties that helped make the film even more poignant. I don't understand the critics antipathy to the film. As I said before, I think a lot of people went in with the wrong expectations. People either over-inflated or oversimplified the movie in their heads before watching.
"J. Edgar" is a groundbreaking film that accomplishes so much and achieves so many "firsts." It's the first to story to depict a powerful, conservative but conflicted gay man. It's the first film to my knowledge (besides "Milk") which features not one but three gay people - Edgar, Tolson and Gandy - in positions of power and responsibility in the founding of one of America's most venerable institutions. I think this story is important for many young gay people today to see, especially as they strive to be successful in a world that can still be very he very homophobic.
Finally, it's the first film to show a largely positive lifelong loving relationship between two gay characters. The story of Edgar and Tolson's love is powerful enough to carry their story, regardless of whether the two had sex or not (I personally think they did have sex but that is neither here nor there). Their love is apparent on its own, it carries weight and importance on its own - especially for a community that is still stereotyped as promiscuous.
This story needed to be told. It is sure to be a boon to gay communities everywhere, especially to young gay people everywhere, hoping to get married. It is also a boon to society, deconstructing simplified, negative perceptions of gay people in the media and otherwise. As the gay rights movement comes to maturity we need more historical gay bio-pics like this one, films which "reclaim" our historical figures for the love they expressed in life. Films like these show that gay people and their love matters.
"J. Edgar" is a grand but humble film. We need more films like it. DiCaprio deserves an Oscar for his performance. I would gladly re-watch this film several times over.
- Ryu
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