THE AVIATOR (2005)

Directed by Martin Scorsese. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Alan Alda, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Ian Holm, Kate Beckinsale, Jude Law. Drama/Biographical. Synopsis: A dramatized story of the real life billionaire Howard Hughes, focusing on his youth spent in aviation and movie making.

Its pretty hard not to have a good flick when its directed by Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York) and since this film is about, arguably, one of the more fascinating figures of the 20th century, you've got all of the ingredients of a good movie when you throw in a top notch cast.

The Aviator is the story of  billionaire Howard Hughes and focuses on his young professional life and especially the contributions he made to the field of aviation when that industry is in its infancy. Some of you of a certain age will probably remember hearing of Hughes as a total recluse who lived in solitude in one of the Las Vegas casinos he had bought, effectively ending Mob ownership of that town and beginning the transformation to the corporate mecca that it is today.

But, The Aviator's Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio The Departed) is young, fresh off of inheriting millions from his late father and out to conquer the industries of aviation and film making. We see Hughes' genius and vision in making the first multi million dollar movie as well as his love of aviation, being a pilot who sets speed records in addition to financing and eventually buying T.W.A. airlines.

Hughes was allegedly a playboy, despite being married twice for long periods of time. Cate Blanchett (The Gift) does a wonderful job as Katherine Hepburn, with whom Hughes had a long term affair prior to her involvement with Spencer Tracy. Kate Beckinsale (Van Helsing Fragments) takes a turn as the seductive Ava Gardner, who had her affair with Hughes prior to hooking up with Frank Sinatra.

The rest of the cast is very solid, too, with Alan Alda (Mash) stepping up to the plate-he was Oscar nominated- as the corrupt Senator who goes head to head with Hughes on behalf of his benefactor and Hughes rival, played by Alec Baldwin (Minis First Time/ Glengarry, Glen Ross).

But, the prize in this exceptional cast might just have to go to John C. Reilly (Boogie Nights  The Perfect Storm) who portrays Noah, Hughes' real life right hand man who was there through Hughes ascent and the beginning of his descent into madness. Along those lines, the film does touch on, but not dwell on, Hughes mental degeneration and places his obsession with cleanliness and fear of germs on an obsessive compulsive disorder, something that was not readily identified and treated in those days.

In fact, the excellent special features disc of the DVD does a good job of telling us a lot about this and Hughes himself, including a discussion panel that included DiCaprio, Scorsese, and Hughes' surviving widow.

This is a very good flick, but you probably already knew that.