JEAN SENN

While The Aviator was interesting at times, I don't feel DiCaprio was believable as Howard Hughes whatsoever. I loved DiCaprio in The Revenant and Titanic but I don't feel he really captured the essence of Hughes at all. I have seen a dozen documentaries, biopics, and interviews of and with Howard Hughes, and Hollywood just doesn't get him. At all. Hughes was a multidimensional and complicated man at times, and this movie really played him off in an encapsulated way, reducing Hughes to a cliché spawned by Tabloids and anecdotes. Hughes was so much more than just a rich, eccentric womanizer with OCD. I have had OCD since childhood and understand the pigeon-holing by society especially if you are high functioning. I am not sure if the producers were merely trying to capitalize on DiCaprio's star power or audience draw to carry the movie. or if he had contractual obligations to the studio. But for whatever reason, they would have been best served to cast another actor in the starring role who had more of a profound understanding of Howard Hughes. The movie was a hit piece and very insulting.