Let's Discuss J. Edgar's One-time-Age Makeup (and Four Other Important Things)

(L-r) LEONARDO DiCAPRIO as J. Edgar Hoover and ARMIE HAMMER as Clyde Tolson and in Warner Bros. Pictures' drama

Nosotros're old! Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros./?2011 Warner Bros. Amusement Inc. - All Rights Reserved

Last time we convened the Monday Morning Movie Club, we were discussing the glamorous younguns of In Fourth dimension. Today, though, we encounter to go over the non-so-glamorous olds of J. Edgar! Clint Eastwood's latest drama didn't set the box function on fire this weekend (though hey, swell eight figures for a 147-minute biopic about a hateful, gay historical figure own't and so bad), and critics gave information technology a mere 40 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes (one percentage meliorate than the proudly dumb Immortals, ouch), but there is plenty here to discuss for those of u.s.a. who saw it, so let's swoop right in with a couple of talking points to get you started.

Who Was Your Favorite Pretty-Boy Transcriber?
In the flick's main framing device, Old Hoover dictates his memoirs to a succession of handsome young agents installed in his office, but which pretty-male child typist did you adopt? Did your audition laugh with recognition at the sight of sweaty-palmed Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick? When Hoover replaced him with Michael Rady from the Melrose Place reboot, was that an upgrade or a downgrade? Or did your tastes run more to music video impressionist Miles Fisher?

What Did Y'all Think of the Quondam-Age Makeup?
Vulture put our own crack forensics team to work, and nosotros were able to determine the following equations, which were surely tacked to the inspiration wall of the makeup squad in charge of guiding Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer into their on-screen dotage:

So Many Random Cameos!
Allow's be honest: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, and Judi Dench got plenty of juicy scenes, but the residue of the supporting cast didn't have much to work with. (Distressing, Naomi Watts!) Still, that didn't stop the cavalcade of totally random famous people actualization for ane scene — or even just 1 line — to say something expository and so depart. Hullo and skilful-bye, Dermot Mulroney! Lea Thompson, we promise yous enjoyed your scrap of dialogue as much as we enjoyed going, "Whoa, is that Lea Thompson?" At least Stephen Root got a niggling scrap more to exercise, as a wood-obsessed weirdo reminiscent of his character from Office Space (if Milton had time-traveled back to the thirties and transferred his affections from a stapler to a two-by-four).

Gay Edgar Hoover
Did the bad romance of DiCaprio and Hammer work for you? We're a little worried nigh DiCaprio, who has burrowed so deeply into his "tragic period figure" stage that he's forgotten how to strike sparks with anyone onscreen, but Hammer certainly tried to make upwards the gap. (We'll admit that they made an adorable onetime couple, even if they reminded us of this.) And what did you remember of the scene where Hoover tries on his mom's dress? He really should have stopped at the necklace, right?

Does This Movie Accept a Shot at Oscar?
Though plenty of elevation critics and Eastwood partisans liked it, J. Edgar didn't pull in the sort of rave reviews that an Oscar contender truly guns for. Still, how practice you lot rate the chances of DiCaprio and Hammer? The erstwhile seems likely to exist nominated no matter what, but tin he go the distance?

Final Observations:

  • Who was that random girl sitting across from Hoover when he had dinner with his mom in one scene? And why didn't they allow her talk?
  • Whose wardrobe did you most covet: Hammer's sharp suits or DiCaprio's monogrammed "JEH" bathrobe?
  • Forget Hoover putting on his mom's wearing apparel — we'll exist over here, seeing if Lindbergh'due south super-rad knit sweaters are on the rack at Barneys.
Let'south Discuss J. Edgar'due south Sometime-Historic period Makeup (and Four Other Important Things)