Happy Holidays Everyone!

Just saw The Aviator in a packed audience.

Overall, thought it worked in evoking a sympathetic feeling towards
Howard Hughes. Think DiCapprio did a fairly good job in the role, but
having looked at Howard Hughes pictures a lot and readings, do not
think DiCapprio really captured Howard's subtle chameleon combination
of shy, enigmatic, elusive charm alternating with his very masterful
commanding demeanor back to hurt little boy that I think many women
loved to no end. Only HRH could do that, anyway, so guess DiCapprio
did a good job, and conveyed a charming, humane HRH that worked well.

Like DiCapprio best as HRH in the scene where he sliced and diced up
Owen Brewster in the Senate hearings. At that stage of HRH's life,
think DiCapprio did get into HRH's skin better. And do like the fact
that it did show how Pan Am's Juan Trippe had cooked up the CAB
scheme with Brewster far in advance to try and keep TWA from getting
the North Atlantic routes. Loved the comment HRH made in the hearing
as he ripped into Brewster, that $800 million had been spent on
unused airplanes, weaponry, etc. spent by other industrial companies
that taxpayers paid for, so their reason for going after him was
purely for monopoly of the skies. Good thing for general public to
realize that do not know anything about HRH.

The emphasis on his different airplanes, Hell's Angels movies, and
his pilot flights definitely bring home how enamored of aviation he
was and how he contributed to the industry with his vision.

I teared up a couple of times in the movie which surprised me. Think
the movie in a way conveyed Hughes in a way where you realize the
seriousness of his situation. The crash in Beverly Hills was one and
at some other point...just the feeling of realizing what was coming
up for him.

Expected Cate Blanchett to be worse as Katherine Hepburn than she was
in the movie. But, the real Hepburn was much more classic. None of
the women movie stars were anything near as good as the real ones.
Same for HRH (but he was a true original, so guess I am asking too
much of DiCapprio).

In some ways, I think they should have done a screening casting of
unknowns to play all of the main characters' parts (except for Alan
Alda as Brewster) like they did in the old days for "Gone With the
Wind's" Scarlett O'Hara.

Recently saw The Phantom of the Opera movie which Andrew Lloyd Weber
worked on (besides his earlier theatre production years ago). It was
great. The actor who played the Phantom, Gerard Butler, I believe
could have played Howard Hughes well. The guy is handsome with
natural dark hair and eyes and masterful. Of course, for the role he
played, one side of his face was deformed, hidden behind a white
mask. Anyway, could tell he has wickedly good looks in real life and
looks smashing in black and white which HRH wore a lot besides his
beige two-toner jacket, or leather bomber jacket, sneakers, etc.

For the swearing, that seemed to make people laugh and see HRH as
human. Standard operating procedure for any movie today to entertain
people.

Do not think people who do not care or know anything much about HRH
were moved by his plight and bought into the crazy guy deal with no
consideration of what serious crashes can do to a person. That may be
an assumption on my part, but many moviegoers were cavalier and
laughing at the end, more or less indifferent. But, could be wrong.

Did hear one guy say on the way out, "I did not know he was that
big", referring to HRH.

So, overall, it could be a good education to a degree about some of
the things HRH achieved, that many do not realize.

Well, my impressions, and as Forrest Gump says, "That's all I have to
say about that".

Elaine