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J. Edgar
J. Edgar

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Critics

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer
Nov 09, 2011
R, 2 hr. 17 min.

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Movie Info

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, Judi Dench, Ed Westwick, Damon Herriman, Stephen Root, Jeffrey Donovan, Ken Howard
Director: Clint Eastwood
Rated: R
Running Time: 2 hr. 17 min.
Genre: Drama
Theater Release: Nov 09, 2011
DVD Release: Feb 21, 2012
Synopsis: J. Edgar explores the public and private life of one of the most powerful, controversial and enigmatic figures of the 20th century. As the face of law enforcement in America for almost fifty years, J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life. -- (C) Warner Bros

Critic Reviews

  • Tom Long, Detroit News
    Somehow J. Edgar manages to be both epic and empty.
  • Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
    Usually the tautest of directors, Clint Eastwood has gone all slack here, allowing his subject to get completely away from him.
  • Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
    Although Hoover's luster faded as his career went on, Eastwood's movie seems wan from the start.
  • Eric D. Snider, Film.com
    Here's that J. Edgar Hoover biopic you asked for, or at least something that meets all the technical requirements to be considered one.
  • Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
    Mr. Eastwood's ponderous direction, a clumsy script by Dustin Lance Black and ghastly slatherings of old-age makeup all conspire to put the story at an emotional and historical distance. It's a partially animated waxworks.
  • Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
    How believable is DiCaprio? When I first heard he had been cast as Hoover, I couldn't think of another actor physically less likely to pull it off. But he's surprisingly good.
  • Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
    Within the sprawling biopic that is J. Edgar beats the heart of a love story.
  • Charlie McCollum, San Jose Mercury News
    For all its virtues -- or, perhaps, because of them -- J. Edgar is a disappointment.
  • Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
    This far-from-perfect film is hobbled by uneven performances and a script studded with historical bullet points. But it's a strong tribute to Eastwood's personal vision.
  • Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
    J. Edgar is an arduous trek through the history books, a gloomy glide down the marble halls of a Washington institution.
  • Get more reviews for J. Edgar at RottenTomatoes.com
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