J. Edgar (2011)

J. Edgar Hoover, powerful head of the F.B.I. for nearly fifty 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 (Leonardo DiCaprio) 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 (Armie Hammer), who is quickly promoted to Assistant Director and was 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 in which the F.B.I. was involved, 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 with whom he worked over his career, thanks in large part to his secret files.

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Plot Keywords:

gay relationship | american history | u.s. history | secret | agent | 

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Taglines:

The Most Powerful Man in the World

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Claire Danes was considered for the role of Helen Gandy. If Danes had been cast, it would have reunited her with Leonardo DiCaprio, who together portrayed the title characters in Romeo + Juliet (1996).

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Goofs

Neither Hoover nor Agent Melvin Purvis killed John Dillinger. Dillinger was actually gunned down by agents Clarence Hurt, Charles Winstead, and Herman Hollis. Most historical accounts give Winstead credit for delivering the fatal shot to the back of Dillinger's head. Ironically, given the film's depiction of Hoover as constantly claiming credit for the deed, Winstead received a personal letter of commendation from Hoover for it.

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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 Pitch (2016)

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Soundtracks

Goldberg Variation No. 2
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Gennady Loktionov

User Reviews

Edgar and Clyde

Snipets of history and then a tabloid romance that, in its day, was made of rumor and innuendo. A psychotic, paranoid schizophrenic, as I see it, head of the most powerful Federal Bureau Of Investigation, corrupted by his own power and his obsession with secrecy is a character worthy of Peter Lorre but in this new outing of the prolific Clint Eastwood, J Edgar Hoover is Leonardo DiCaprio! I love both DiCaprio and Eastwood but not in this. I love DiCaprio for Gilbert Grape and Eastwood for The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven. Here they are both out of their depths. Long, boring film with terrible aging make-up and no real center. The most unexpected aspect was the time dedicated to the romance between J Edgar and Clyde Tolson. It humanized the man without revealing him. That's almost cheating.

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

Gross USA:

$37,306,030

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$84,920,539

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