As a first thought, I didn’t really think a biopic of J. Edgar Hoover would be very interesting, but as the film began, it was clear that this was a fascinating man who left a lasting impression in the history of the United States. Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar peers inside the world of the formidable Director of the FBI and unfortunately, only scratches the surface. Told from Hoover’s perspective as if he’s writing a memoir, the film doesn’t necessarily follow a timeline as it moves backwards and forwards, sometimes within the same scene. This is at first a little confusing, but soon becomes a very effective method of storytelling. By seeing that some of the characters stay with Hoover, their actions in past events become even more meaningful.As Director of the FBI for over 40 years, there is a lot of ground to cover, so writer Dustin Lance Blackchose to focus on some key events to anchor the story. The Lindbergh baby kidnapping is the first major event, after which it became a federal crime to take a kidnapping victim across state borders. Several other events are mentioned, but the latter is one that is most notable. What I liked about the film is how it is truly presented as being from Hoover’s point-of-view that seems to be always questioned.
One of the severely missed opportunities of the film is the role of Helen Gandy, his long-time secretary. Her story fades out in the beginning only to come back in the end. As described by those who worked with her in real life, she was very influential and was the gatekeeper to the most powerful man in the FBI, yet she’s barely given more in the film than answering the phone or taking dictation. There are hints of their admiration of each other, but there seems to be no reason behind it other than knowing each other for so long. Naomi Watts (21 Grams, King Kong) was not given anything to work with, but hopefully we’ll see something good in the deleted scenes.
I found the portrayal of the relationship Hoover had with his second-in-command, Clyde Tolson, to be very subtle, leaving it as the mystery it truly is. The film never takes a firm stance on the nature of their relationship, but does make some assumptions that are very plausible. Armie Hammer (The Social Network) is perfectly cast as Tolson, in that he was very poised and polished, yet was able to express his support of Hoover with gestures. He’s got a handsome quality, but very accessible.
The scenes are shot with natural light almost exclusively and it really gives the film a period quality. Most of the film is very dark, with the exception of times when Hoover is happiest and then everything is white or a very light shade of brown.
I suppose I should mention Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception, The Departed) as the title character, but unfortunately, the performance didn’t leave a lasting impression. Although he 
really captured the essence of the paranoia and secrecy of the character, his charm or social ability did not come through and was rather awkward at times. A scene in the club comes to mind because it’s the only one that even attempts to explore Hoover in social situations, yet the entirety of the film is about his personal relationships and doesn’t touch on this more than once.
Hoover’s mother, Annie (Dame Judi Dench), is another character that isn’t given enough to work with. It’s assumed she’s a domineering mother, but there really wasn’t much evidence other than a few minor statements. She was harsh at times, but other than the one story of “Daffy,” she wasn’t cruel.
The film will draw audiences wondering if the idea of cross-dressing comes into play, but that is such a minor concern when looking at the big picture. If anything, it’s a short history lesson that should spark interest in stories that are old, but not forgotten. I, myself, looked up the story of the Lindbergh Baby and was fascinated by the specifics of the case. It’s also very eye-opening to see how not-so-long-ago, scientific ideas like fingerprinting were considered “silly.” I think J. Edgar Hoover would have loved CSI.
Rating: Not quite great, but interesting enough. 6/10
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