J. Edgar (2011)

J. Edgar Hoover, powerful head of the F.B.I. for nearly 50 years, looks back on his professional and personal life.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writer:

Dustin Lance Black

Stars:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	J. Edgar Hoover
Josh Hamilton	...	Robert Irwin
Geoff Pierson	...	Mitchell Palmer
Cheryl Lawson	...	Palmer's Wife
Kaitlyn Dever	...	Palmer's Daughter
Brady Matthews	...	Inspector
Gunner Wright	...	Dwight Eisenhower
David A. Cooper	...	Franklin Roosevelt
Ed Westwick	...	Agent Smith
Naomi Watts	...	Helen Gandy
Kelly Lester	...	Head Secretary
Jack Donner	...	Edgar's Father
Judi Dench	...	Annie Hoover
Dylan Burns	...	Hoover as a Child
Jordan Bridges	...	Labor Dept. Lawyer

Storyline

Biopic of J. Edgar Hoover told by Hoover as he recalls his career for a biography. Early in his career, Hoover fixated on Communists, anarchists and any other revolutionary taking action against the U.S. government. He slowly builds the agency's reputation, becoming the sole arbiter of who gets hired and fired. One of his hires is Clyde Tolson who is quickly promoted to Assistant Director and would be Hoover's confidant and companion for the rest of Hoover's life. Hoover's memories have him playing a greater role in the many high profile cases the FBI was involved in - the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, the arrest of bank robbers like John Dillinger - and also show him to be quite adept at manipulating the various politicians he's worked with over his career, thanks in large part to his secret files.

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Plot Keywords:

gay relationship | fbi | secret | federal bureau of investigation | agent | 

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Taglines:

The Most Powerful Man in the World

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Spain]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 November 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hoover

Filming Locations:

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club - 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,217,324, 13 November 2011, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$37,306,030

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$84,606,030

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment,Malpaso Productions,Wintergreen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scott Eastwood auditioned for the role of Agent Smith.

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Goofs

Hoover and Tolson are in Del Mar, and gossip about having seen Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball together at the racetrack before the two had even met. Lucy and Desi did indeed have a home in Del Mar, but not for 20 years after the time of this scene. Furthermore, they gossip about Lucy's fake red hair - she was not a redhead until 1943, having brown or dark blonde hair during most of the 1930s. Additionally, Hoover refers to her hair as "ginger"--a British slang term unknown in the U.S. in the 1930s.

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Quotes

[first lines]
J. Edgar Hoover: Let me tell you something. The SCLC has direct Communist ties. Even great men can be corrupted, can't they? Communism is not a political party. It is a disease. It corrupts the soul, turning men, even the gentlest of men, into vicious evil tyrants.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.164 (2013)

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Soundtracks

I Only Have Eyes for You
Written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin
Performed by Kyle Eastwood, Joe Bagg, Kye Palmer, Jason Harnell

User Reviews

Eastwood's Most Under-appreciated Film

Clint Eastwood's boldness and creativity paid off in this excellent portrayal of J. Edgar Hoover's life. A project like that is not pulled off by just anyone, and the fact that a film like that was even made shows the importance of Clint Eastwood. His direction was marvelous, by the way, showing without fear the dark side of the FBI director, but also showing all the good aspects of this very interesting subject. Leonardo DiCaprio is another great reason to watch the film, in one of the most moving performances in his career. His portrayal of a Hoover both ruthless and emotionally vulnerable was superb, and he has excelled once again in studying the character. The make up must also be praised for allowing DiCaprio to portrayal Hoover in many different stages of his life. J. Edgar, if not Clint's best work, is a very interesting and moving film, and the fact that it is so under-appreciated is a mystery to me.