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Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin ... see more see more... , Alan Alda , Ian Holm , Danny Huston , Gwen Stefani , Jude Law , Adam Scott , Matt Ross , Kelli Garner , Frances Conroy , Brent Spiner , Stanley de Santis , Edward Herrmann , Willem Dafoe , Kenneth Walsh , J.C. MacKenzie , Sam Hennings , Vincent Laresca , Rufus Wainwright , Justin Shilton , Chris Ufland , Josie Maran , Nellie Sciutto , Stanley DeSantis

Martin Scorsese directed this fast-moving, epic-scale biopic documenting the life and loves one of the most colorful Americans of the 20th century, Howard Hughes. The Aviator follows Hughes (played by... read more read more... Leonardo DiCaprio) as the twentysomething millionaire, having already made a fortune improving the design of oil-drilling bits, comes to Hollywood with an interest in getting into the picture business. It doesn't take long for Hughes, with his passion for airplanes, to jump from producer to director of his first major film project, a World War I air epic called Hell's Angels, which took three years to complete thanks to the shift from silent to sound filming and Hughes' relentless perfectionism. However, the film was a massive hit, and the eccentric inventor became a mogul in Hollywood, making Jean Harlow (Gwen Stefani) a star and enjoying a romance with Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett). But Hollywood's old-boy network never fully accepted Hughes, and in time his passion for flying began to reclaim his attentions as he began designing new planes, setting air speed records, flying around the world, and risking his life testing aircraft. Hughes also found time to romance Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale) and founded his own airline, Trans-World Airlines, though as his ideas became bolder, his approach became more eccentric, and he gained many powerful enemies, including the head of Pan-American Airlines, Juan Trippe (Alec Baldwin), and Senator Ralph Owen Brewster (Alan Alda), who attempted to prove that Hughes' radical design ideas were actually part of an effort to bilk taxpayers for millions of dollars through government contracts. The Aviator's star-studded cast also includes John C. Reilly, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe, Ian Holm, and Frances Conroy. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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73% liked it

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213 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Release Date: December 17, 2004

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DVD Release Date: May 24, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (9,366)

  • spielberg00
    February 17, 2012
    spielberg00
    Leonardo DiCaprio seems to work well in any film, as long as there is a well-recognized director attached. He does great with directors such as Baz Luhrmann, Clint Eastwood, James Cameron, and Christopher Nolan, but when it comes to working with Martin Scorsese, he casts a brigh... read moreter light than ever imaginable. Like in THE DEPARTED, a slightly more recent collaboration, he takes on a thoroughly-convincing accent, though this time Southern rather than Bostonian. His personality given into portraying such a manâ"a man who lives the former half of his life as one of the most successful ever, and the latter half suffering increasingly from chronic pain and OCDâ"is grand, heartbreaking, and riveting. Maybe his performance as Hughes doesnâ(TM)t begin to match his effort as cop Billy Costigan in THE DEPARTED, but itâ(TM)s the number one highlight of the film.

    Often, with THE AVIATOR, it is hard not to see the screenplay intertwined with the resulting images and audio of the film. That is to say, the acting, cinematography, and directing is so carefully, beautifully, robustly concentrated that we can imagine how they originated as the text in John Loganâ(TM)s script. The cinematography, of the three forenamed, may be the very best. Combine the split-screen tactics used by Martin Scorsese with Howard Shoreâ(TM)s jazzy, nostalgic score, and you begin to sit wondering whether you are watching a colorized version of a 1930s film. Itâ(TM)s just that utterly convincing.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    November 25, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    The Way of the Future.

    Saw it again! Epic Film! This truly is one of the best films ever made by Martin Scorsese and Leo DiCaprio. A superb biopic of Howard Hughes, the man that changed aviation as we know it. Fantastic Film! If you haven't watch this film before you really shou... read moreld, cinema at it's best right here.

    Focusing on his early years (from the 1930 production of 'Hell's Angels' to the 1947 test flight of the Blue Spruce, when he was 42), this is the story of how young Howard Hughes transformed a small fortune into a massive one. The son of the Texan inventor of an amazing drill bit who died when he was 18, leaving him with 75% of the "Hughes Tool Co.", Howard Hughes quickly moved to Los Angeles to become a Hollywood film producer, where he helped launch the career of Jean Harlow and other starlets, and producing such classics as Hell's Angels, The Front Page, Flying Leathernecks, and Scarface (the 1932 original), eventually owning RKO Pictures. Hughes' legend came not from focusing on just Hollywood, however, as he simultaneously branched into industry after industry, including aviation in 1932 (including TWA Airlines), and during WWII, defense, leading to the creation of the (infamous) Spruce Goose, a flying boat of immense size. After WWII, Hughes' expansions continued, with an electronics company that was integral to the evolution of the satellite, and Hughes' several Las Vegas casinos (though this film may be ending before he moves there). This film will also focus on Hughes' romances with Hollywood stars like Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner.
  • fb701560354
    October 10, 2011
    fb701560354
    As much as I like Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator left me feeling oddly left out of the life of Howerd Hughes, but definitely in on how many women he went out with, most notably Katherine Hepburn. Despite the loose ends, and the distant feel, Cate Blancett ste... read moreals the screen as Katherine Hepburn, and Ian Holm is great as well, but I feel Leonardo DiCaprio always acts the same in all the movies. The Aviator has a great story, but failed to get me connected to the man it's all about.
  • phubbs1
    September 4, 2011
    phubbs1
    Roll up roll up...Scorsese's second big historical epic, this time recounting the life of tycoon Howard Hughes from the 1920's to 1947. Again Scorsese uses DiCaprio for his main role yet for once I think we see the best of DiCaprio in probably his finest performance so far.

    The ... read morefilm is epic in cinematography as well as casting and direction with every frame highly detailed and given amazing depth with the score.  Every scene and every shot looks perfect and seems to have been done with painful attention to accuracy and setup, the clothes the cast wear to the amazing sets are all beautifully done whilst the story of Hughes life is handled with care and includes a large range of big names from both show business and the financial world, I'm unsure if its all accurate but it damn well seems like it when watching.

    A long film yes but it doesn't feel like it as there is so much going on throughout the film with so many people popping in and out of Hughes life, along with his personal conquests, that you find yourself wondering about what all these other people did and what happened to them, it makes you wanna read up on the whole history of it all. Its also really interesting to see many Hollywood legends portrayed by modern day stars and I was impressed at the levels of dedication shown, Blanchett, Beckinsale and a small cameo by Jude Law as Errol Flynn were all superbly done, especially Blanchett who clearly spend allot of time nailing Hepburn. DiCaprio is the star of this piece though for sure with a brilliant performance as Hughes that almost became annoying as he portrayed Hughes' compulsive disorder to nerve jangling levels, started to make you twitch watching him do it haha Can't forget about the amazing costume department though and their work, everyone looked so good in their duds, faultless right down to the massive amount of extras in many scenes.

    From the creation of his epic 'Hell's Angels' to the obsessive and devoted creation of his aircraft through to the courtroom drama's between himself, Trippe and Senator Brewster to the finale and his flying of the Hercules 'airboat'.....this film is never dull even though I really thought it would be hehe probably one of the most accurate period films I've seen and a surprise from Scorsese really.
  • FrizzDrop
    July 8, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    A very full and vibrant portrait of the aviator himself, Howard Hughes. Taking on one of the heavyweights of history, especially in the world of the motion picture, director Scorsese and title actor Leonardo DiCaprio bring the heat to a maudlin and intricate story that could only... read more be told with glitz, glamour, and aeronautics. The eccentricities and overpowering presence of Hughes is encapsulated in DiCaprio's performance, just as altruistic of the audience as his previous roles. Here is a man with obsession issues towards germs, women, and the grand plan for his ascension to fame through motion pictures and aviation, truly donning the title of The Aviator. The supporting cast is packed with the Old Hollywood set, including Kate Beckinsale as a demure Ava Gardner and Cate Blanchett, perfectly cast, as the strong headed Katherine Hepburn. All praises of her actually becoming the actress are correct, as everything I've read on Hepburn is perfected by Blanchett's exhaustive research and watchful interpretation, in no way mimicking. As the film progresses from a simple tale of genius gone haywire to the mentally culpable later years that stranded Hughes in his own mind, the face changes from DiCaprio seasoned as a character, and becomes an almost perfect imitation of Welles' Citizen Kane. Much of Kane is filtered into this film, that of a high minded and rich inclined figure with all the trappings of wealth and none of the sympathies of a nation intent on seeing the mighty fall. Not on par with Kane, The Aviator does go raw, showing all that Hughes failed in, but climbed back from obscurity to accomplish. Along with the perfectly tuned soundtrack and airplane effects, this is one of the better made films of the decade, the truest look at insanity through persecution since Frances.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    A good film. Leo DiCaprio was phenomonal and the fact it was a true story just made me even more intrigued.
  • DreamExtractor
    May 31, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Masterpiece, DiCaprio and Blanchett are amazing. I never had heard of Howard Hughes, but this movie takes us through a large part of his life. The settings and music and production were amazing and really well made. I love this movie, one of Scorsese's best.
  • FilmFanatik
    May 6, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    A virtually straight-forward semi bio-pic. You wouldn't think that it was a Martin Scorsese film just from the sheer pace of it, but it is literally painted with his style. I love the performances, the costumes, the color schemes...everything. I also love the fact that Scorses... read moree opted to use models of planes rather than just go to town with CGI. Now, there is some CGI in this film, but it's used as a storytelling tool, not an excuse, which is when it works best. It's one of DiCaprio's finest performances and one of Scorsese's best films. A masterpiece.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    February 28, 2011
    MeetMeinMontauk
    This is certainly one of the best Scorsese films. The costumes, acting, cinematography, story were all outstanding! I mean, you could not have more powerhouse performances in one film! And such gorgeous, rich colors! This movie captured me in instantly and never really slowed. Co... read morempletely entranced!
    I had a few, few, tiny story issues I didn't like... like the split screen. Dated technique. But still, amazing overall!
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    January 10, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Aviator is a biopic on eccentric tycoon, Howard Hughes. Martin Scorsese directs this picture with style, as we get a close look at the rise of Howard Hughes. In the role of Hughes is Leonardo Dicaprio. A well chosen actor to play this part. Leonardo Dicaprio gives a great per... read moreformance in the lead role, and Scorsese crafts yet another great film. The Aviator like I've said, takes a look at Howard Hughes throughout his life, from his birth to the movie industry to the aviation industry. We see as he turns his millions into billions, acquires TWA and the war he waged against Pan Am. Howard Hughes was a very complex man with a lot of phobias. Scorsese manages to cover most of his life on film, and DiCaprio plays Hughes with precision.
    The Aviator is a stunning film thats well directed and acted, and is quite possibly one of the best biopics ever made. Martin Scorsese has definitely made his best film since Goodfellas, and this film was only topped by his follow up, The Departed, for which he won an Academy Award for best director. The Aviator is yet another fine film from a director who knows to craft terrific pictures and Scorsese is a definite master of cinema. The way this film illustrates the life of such an intriguing man is superb, only Martin Scorsese could have made such an ambitious film about a man who had such an ambitious life. The Aviator also takes a look at the Spruce Goose, Hughe's famous flying boat that only flew once. If you're looking for a great biopic to watch, make it The Aviator, a truly interesting and entertaining film.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss
February 3, 2010
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

This handsome movie is an oddly well-behaved one to come from the preternaturally energetic Scorsese. Full Review

David Ansen
November 1, 2007
David Ansen, Newsweek

This almost-great epic has one foot in legend: it's a vision of an American titan that could have sprung from the insides of Hughes's own obsessive, perfectionist head. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
May 20, 2005
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Its primary appeal is its speed: It rushes along, from scandal to air crash to movie romance to Senate hearing, each anecdote well realized but never tarried over. Full Review

Eric Harrison
April 21, 2005
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

This undoubtedly is the movie Scorsese set out to make, and he made it exceedingly well. Still, we can fault him for choosing to celebrate its subject instead of examining him. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
December 27, 2004
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

By and large I think this movie's chief function is to give Scorsese an opportunity to indulge in the pleasures of big-time filmmaking and to treat the audience to a heady dose of glamour. Full Review

Desson Thomson
December 24, 2004
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

We may enjoy watching the spectacles, but we don't much care for, or even have a feeling for, the guy in the cockpit. Full Review

Joe Baltake
December 24, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

A film that's extremely well-made but tantalizingly or clumsily (take your pick) oblique. Full Review

Roger Moore
December 24, 2004
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's history and biography and, as Scorsese, Logan and Orson Welles before them affirm, a distinctly American story. Full Review

Tom Long
December 24, 2004
Tom Long, Detroit News

For all the madness and tragedy in The Aviator, this is very much a movie that believes in crazy dreams, in reaching and recklessness and accomplishment.

Robert Denerstein
December 24, 2004
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

A fast-moving, entertaining movie that boasts a fine performance by DiCaprio, who captures Hughes' brio, as well as the sadness that accompanied the gradual onset of insanity that turned Hughes into a...

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Facts

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    • Katharine Hepburn: Simply marvelous.
    • Howard Hughes: Sh- Show me all the blueprints, Odie. Show me all the blueprints... Show me all the blueprints. I'm serious now- show me all the blueprints... Show me all the bl- Show me all the blueprints. Show me all the blueprints. Show me all the blueprints show me all the blueprints. Show me all the blueprints. I wanna get it done right so show me all the blueprints. Show me all the blueprints. Show me all the blueprints show me all the blueprints.
    • Howard Hughes: He is to open the bag with his right hand and hold the bag out to me at a 45-degree angle so I may reach into the bag without... without touching the paper.
    • Howard Hughes: Way of the future, way of the future, way of the future.
    • Howard Hughes: This is what the people want. Silent pictures are yesterday's news, so I figure we gotta re shoot Hell's Angels for sound.
    • Noah Dietrich: How much of it?
    • Howard Hughes: All of it. Before you even ask I'll tell you an additional 1.7 million. We got that much?
    • Noah Dietrich: No.
    • Howard Hughes: This is what the people want. Silent pictures are yesterday's news, so I figure we gotta re shoot Hell's Angels for sound.
    • Noah Dietrich: How much of it?
    • Howard Hughes: All of it. Before you even ask I'll tell you an additional 1.7 million. We got that much?
    • Noah Dietrich: No.
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  • Since her premature death at age 26, she has become known as the original "Blonde Bombshell". She was most recently portrayed in the movie "The Aviator". Who is this actress?  Answer »
  • What singer portrayed Jean Harlow in "The Aviator"  Answer »
  • he directed "taxi driver", "the aviator" and "goodfellas".  Answer »
  • Martin Scorcese & Leonardo Dicaprio have collaborated on 2 films. They are...  Answer »
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