The Aviator

A technically superior movie, to be sure. But also a strangely disjointed film. It's time and place--Hollywood's Golden Age--has never seemed so alien, almost otherworldly, despite having appeared in countless period pieces. Something seems to be missing, or not captured properly. The film also suffers from a casting faux pas; despite a strong roster overall, DiCaprio seems miscast as Howard Hughes--he's too young through most of the film, even for Hughes's early adventures. And while there is an interesting story element buried within the flash and dazzle--an underdeveloped statement about obsession and achievement that could have been enlightening--the pieces never come together to make the whole truly engaging. A near miss.