I think the release date may mean a tad bit but how do you explain 4 movies doing better than it and 3 of them doing significantly better?

I think it honestly may just be a boring subject to a lot of people. I have a hard time believing it's not the best movie of the top 5 box office flicks. I will definitely still check it out though. I have faith in Leo and Clint.

It received awful reviews.last time I checked it was in teh 40s on rotten tomatoes...heard it was a flop

Roger Ebert said it was "masterful" and "fascinating," so I'm inclined to believe it went over people's heads perhaps.

I dont know what to make of it. The previews of it being kind of black and white throws me for a loop cause I hate when movies do that shit. As if there werent color back then, vibrant color that would look the same as today. I could see it being really good, have to think movie, or a flop. Obviously hoping for the former.

Yeah, the bad reviews scared me away from this one. I was pumped to see it.

I just can't picture it being a flop but I guess we shall see.

I was really excited to see it but the reviews are keeping me away till the DVD release. Mostly from what I read was the acting was excellent, but the storyline was weak with confusing past/present jumps.

Ill just echo what some have said, after just returning.

I thought Leo was fantastic, as always. Naomi Watts was very good in a lesser, supporting role as was Armie Hammer (still laugh at that name every time). The cuts from way past, recent past, and present (in terms of his life, not 2011) was pretty shoddy and not done seamless at all. Some of the dissolves they used were really creative, but just poorly executed. It needed to be more obvious, especially since J Edgar was narrating his time at the FBI as a voice-over to a reporter, but you werent sure when he was done with that and back to the past. I think seeing the film again would really help this.

I thought they went a little bit too far with the homosexuality. I know it is a huge part of his legacy, and everyone has an opinion on it, and in that sense it was really well done. I thought the way they showed that part of his life was very similar to how it likely went down with the subtleness of it all. I just personally wish/thought they would have focused more on his actions in building the FBI and gone more into some of the stuff the FBI did to make a name for itself. They went into the G-Men portion, but didnt show much action on that part. I would have liked to see more of the ways they tracked the Public Enemies. I thought they went into the Lindbergh kidnapping case extensively, which was good since it was the biggest case and kind of launched the "Federal" part of the FBI after making kidnapping a Federal Crime. But again, couldve shown the behind the scenes chase they went on.

I think adding that part would have added time, but it would have been a more fast paced movie without requiring action. I think they could have added 15 minutes to that type of thing while eliminating 15 minutes of the more "present day" stuff.


Overall, Id give it a 3.5 out of 5. I will watch it again, because it is very interesting, but not in the theaters. If you like the history of our country and in particular the lives of figures like this, I suggest going to see it. Anyone else, go in prepared to watch a movie that is more about story and dialogue with interesting plots moreso than anything action or fast paced.

I definitely plan on checking it out. I didn't expect it to be action packed or fast paced. I just know you can trust DiCaprio to deliver.

I honestly think the film has two things working against it. 1. I don't think the previews do it justice. I'm interested in it mainly because I'm a DiCaprio kind of guy and I'm partly interested in it for the history but it's secondary. 2. I really don't think a lot of people know or care much about J Edgar Hoover. I have heard people describe the movie as being about one of our presidents. I would guess a lot of people look at this like they did Invictus.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, the make-up is horrible. Also not sure why they didnt have the actors change their voice or use anything to make it a bit more raspy/old. Even in post, it wouldnt have been too terribly difficult. But that wasnt what I was focusing...though it was really bad and annoying.

I saw J. Edgar last night and I thought it was extremely well acted and informative (all though I'm not sure how historically accurate it was) but I didn't really like any of the characters.

I agree with Laley about the gay angle. That part of the story reminded me a little of broke back mountain when it was over. It was kind of sad, but I didn't really like the characters and felt like they got the loneliness they asked for. (and maybe that part is just lost on me because I can't understand what it's like to be a gay man and have to hide my sexuality) That didn't really do much for me.

I did enjoy how they portrayed Richard Nixon. Over all I'm not sorry I watched this movie, but I have no desire to see it again.

Heading to see Immortals in a little bit.

I saw J Edgar last night, it was a pile. Boring as hell and way too long. Also the makeup was ridiculous. Stay away from that turd. Leo hasn't made a good movie in while, I'm starting to wonder about him.

Commander of Awesome;976175 wrote:I saw J Edgar last night, it was a pile. Boring as hell and way too long. Also the makeup was ridiculous. Stay away from that turd. Leo hasn't made a good movie in while, I'm starting to wonder about him.

Wow. I'm a big Leo fan so I can't concur about his movies but to each their own I suppose. I heard the make up was horrendous though.

Most love Inception but I wasn't a fan of the movie. Shutter Island was sort of meh, Body of Lies had one good point but wasn't worth it overall, it was decent but not great by any means. Revolutionary Road was boring as well. I think his acting is solid, just question his ability to pick projects.

Commander of Awesome;976175 wrote:I saw J Edgar last night, it was a pile. Boring as hell and way too long. Also the makeup was ridiculous. Stay away from that turd. Leo hasn't made a good movie in while, I'm starting to wonder about him.

Wow. Someone doesn't appreciate entertainment...

Signed,

Inception
Shutter Island (Even tho it was "meh," it was still entertaining & Leo still gave an amazing performance)
Blood Diamond
The Departed

I didn't think Shutter Island was just "meh." (Cue the you will watch anything response) I also thought The Departed was great (In my top 5 favorite movies). I really liked Inception and I liked Blood Diamond. I think he has only made one or two questionable movies in his career. The Beach is the first movie that comes to mind.

Shutter Island was predictable, but it was still a good movie imo, and gave me the suspense I was looking for. Loved Inception, but I know some people who didnt and I get why. But I love movies that make you think and make you watch them 5 times to finally think you get the concept. I still see something new each time I watch it.

Blood Diamond was great, and the message was good as well. Loved Departed.

All 4 of those movies, and J Edgar, I thought Leo was tremendous in acting wise.

I also liked Body of Lies a lot. I didnt really know what it was gonna be about when I went in, which may have helped since I had no expectations. But I really liked it. Anything else is going back past "recently" but he has had some gems in his time.

Speaking of Leo, who else is excited for Great Gatsby? He is playing Jay Gatsby. I know we all had to read this book in High School...

Laley23;976439 wrote:Speaking of Leo, who else is excited for Great Gatsby? He is playing Jay Gatsby. I know we all had to read this book in High School...

I'm pretty pumped for that. He is also in an upcoming Tarantino movie which should be interesting.

Scarlet_Buckeye;976410 wrote:
Inception
Shutter Island (Even tho it was "meh," it was still entertaining & Leo still gave an amazing performance)
Blood Diamond
The Departed

Blood Diamond and the departed both came out in 2006 which were the movies I was referring to. Hasn't made a good movie since then IMO.

Also never said he wasn't a good actor he is. Just chooses his projects poorly and the same character in every movie. He's always "tortured and he has a secret, and he spends the whole movie letting you know he's tortured and he has a secret" in every one of his movies. Its getting old IMO.

bigdaddy2003;976415 wrote:I didn't think Shutter Island was just "meh." (Cue the you will watch anything response) I also thought The Departed was great (In my top 5 favorite movies). I really liked Inception and I liked Blood Diamond. I think he has only made one or two questionable movies in his career. The Beach is the first movie that comes to mind.

I agree that Shutter Island was better than "meh," but that's what Commander said so I was going to concede that argument in favor of "Well at least Leo did an excellent acting job in it."

Also, while The Departed was a solid movie, I get so upset at the people who say it's in their top 5. NO WAY was it a top 5 movie. Again, very good, but NO WAY top 5.

Inception and Blood Diamond were both faaaar superior movies. Inception was truly amazing.

Laley23;976434 wrote:Loved Inception, but I know some people who didnt and I get why. But I love movies that make you think and make you watch them 5 times to finally think you get the concept. I still see something new each time I watch it.

Really liked the concept of the movie and though leo did a good job. However other characters in the movie were piss poorly developed and Ellen Paige's character was useless. She really didn't have a point of being the film at all. Thought the concept was great and liked the semi original idea (Matrix) but just thought the execution was poor. Lost potential.

Commander of Awesome;976613 wrote:Blood Diamond and the departed both came out in 2006 which were the movies I was referring to. Hasn't made a good movie since then IMO.

Also never said he wasn't a good actor he is. Just chooses his projects poorly and the same character in every movie. He's always "tortured and he has a secret, and he spends the whole movie letting you know he's tortured and he has a secret" in every one of his movies. Its getting old IMO.

I guess the guy needs to put out a movie a year then [insert rolling eyes icon].

So they guy has nailed a certain roll. Forgive him for doing what he excels at. You're really being nit-picky.

Commander of Awesome;976621 wrote:Really liked the concept of the movie and though leo did a good job. However other characters in the movie were piss poorly developed and Ellen Paige's character was useless. She really didn't have a point of being the film at all. Thought the concept was great and liked the semi original idea (Matrix) but just thought the execution was poor. Lost potential.

#Fail.