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J. Edgar

  • 20112011
  • RR
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
128K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,048
283
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar (2011)
As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 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.
Play trailer2:33
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance

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

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
128K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,048
283
  • Director
    • Clint Eastwood
  • Writer
    • Dustin Lance Black
  • Stars
    • Leonardo DiCaprio
    • Armie Hammer
    • Naomi Watts
Top credits
  • Director
    • Clint Eastwood
  • Writer
    • Dustin Lance Black
  • Stars
    • Leonardo DiCaprio
    • Armie Hammer
    • Naomi Watts
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 306User reviews
    • 398Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 17 nominations

    Videos3

    U.S. Version
    Trailer 2:33
    U.S. Version
    Netherlands Trailer
    Promo 0:20
    Netherlands Trailer
    Italian Trailer
    Promo 0:15
    Italian Trailer

    Photos144

    Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar (2011)
    Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer in J. Edgar (2011)
    Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer in J. Edgar (2011)
    Brian Grazer and Robert Lorenz in J. Edgar (2011)
    Naomi Watts in J. Edgar (2011)
    Josh Lucas in J. Edgar (2011)
    Naomi Watts and Kelly Lester in J. Edgar (2011)
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Watts, and Armie Hammer in J. Edgar (2011)
    Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar (2011)
    Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer in J. Edgar (2011)
    Leonardo DiCaprio and Damon Herriman in J. Edgar (2011)
    Leonardo DiCaprio in J. Edgar (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leonardo DiCaprio
    Leonardo DiCaprio
    • J. Edgar Hooveras J. Edgar Hoover
    Armie Hammer
    Armie Hammer
    • Clyde Tolsonas Clyde Tolson
    Naomi Watts
    Naomi Watts
    • Helen Gandyas Helen Gandy
    Josh Hamilton
    Josh Hamilton
    • Robert Irwinas Robert Irwin
    Geoff Pierson
    Geoff Pierson
    • Mitchell Palmeras Mitchell Palmer
    Cheryl Lawson
    • Palmer's Wifeas Palmer's Wife
    Kaitlyn Dever
    Kaitlyn Dever
    • Palmer's Daughteras Palmer's Daughter
    Brady Matthews
    Brady Matthews
    • Inspectoras Inspector
    Gunner Wright
    Gunner Wright
    • Dwight Eisenhoweras Dwight Eisenhower
    David A. Cooper
    David A. Cooper
    • Franklin Rooseveltas Franklin Roosevelt
    Ed Westwick
    Ed Westwick
    • Agent Smithas Agent Smith
    Kelly Lester
    Kelly Lester
    • Head Secretaryas Head Secretary
    Jack Donner
    Jack Donner
    • Edgar's Fatheras Edgar's Father
    Judi Dench
    Judi Dench
    • Annie Hooveras Annie Hoover
    Dylan Burns
    Dylan Burns
    • Hoover as a Childas Hoover as a Child
    Jordan Bridges
    Jordan Bridges
    • Labor Dept. Lawyeras Labor Dept. Lawyer
    Jack Axelrod
    • Caminettias Caminetti
    Jessica Hecht
    Jessica Hecht
    • Emma Goldmanas Emma Goldman
    • Director
      • Clint Eastwood
    • Writer
      • Dustin Lance Black
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —garykmcd
    • abuse of power
    • gay relationship
    • j. edgar hoover character
    • usa
    • american history
    • 377 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The Most Powerful Man in the World
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for brief strong language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Armie Hammer, Leonardo DiCaprio and he proposed to producer and director Clint Eastwood to make the sexual relationship between the characters to be graphic, but he refused, arguing the screenplay didn't call for it.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      J. Edgar Hoover: Do I kill everything that I love?

    • Connections
      Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.16 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Goldberg Variation No. 2
      Written by Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performed by Gennady Loktionov

    User reviews306

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    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.
    helpful•72
    41
    • littlemartinarocena
    • Nov 22, 2011

    FAQ2

    • Was J. Edgar Hoover gay?
    • Why was this film controversial?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 11, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site (Spain)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hoover
    • Filming locations
      • Warrenton, Virginia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Imagine Entertainment
      • Malpaso Productions
      • Wintergreen Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $37,306,030
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,217,324
      • Nov 13, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $84,920,539
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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