J. Edgar

Name: J. Edgar
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: November 9, 2011
Duration: 137 min
Rating: 59

2011

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Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 228 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 228 Ratings

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J. Edgar

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: November 9, 2011 | R

Summary: J. Edgar explores the public and private life of one of the most powerful, controversial and enigmatic figures of the 20th century. As the face of law enforcement in America for almost fifty years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, hisJ. Edgar explores the public and private life of one of the most powerful, controversial and enigmatic figures of the 20th century. As the face of law enforcement in America for almost fifty years, J. Edgar Hoover 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. (Warner Bros. Pictures)
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Director: Clint Eastwood

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 137 min

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Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan

Nov 8, 2011

J. Edgar is a somber, enigmatic, darkly fascinating tale, and how could it be otherwise? Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Nov 8, 2011

Mr. Eastwood doesn't just shift between Hoover's past and present, his intimate life and popular persona, he also puts them into dialectic play, showing repeatedly how each informed the other. Read full review

Jaime N. Christley

Nov 9, 2011

Black's script, in the wrong hands, could have come under fire for confusing Hoover's twisted mind with his homosexuality or his problems with Mother. Eastwood doesn't seem to give a fuck, and only opts for one overt visual match, depicting as mirror images Hoover's lifeless corpse and the remains of the Lindbergh baby. Read full review

Steven Rea

Nov 10, 2011

Most disappointing, Eastwood's decades-spanning portrait reveals little about the man himself. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Nov 4, 2011

Any movie in which the longtime FBI honcho features as the central character must supply some insight into what made him tick, or suffer from the reality that the Bureau's exploits were far more interesting than the bureaucrat who ran it -- a dilemma J. Edgar never rises above. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Nov 9, 2011

Whether unintentionally or by design, the movie never really makes a case either for or against the troubled figure at its center. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine James Rocchi

Nov 6, 2011

Between Eastwood's direction and Dustin Lance Black's screenplay, what you feel leaking off the screen in every scene is missed opportunity. Read full review

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User Reviews

Eminem

Nov 9, 2011

Awesome movie! DiCaprio needs to get that Oscar already!!! Ordinary critics didn't understand it because of the many narrative and time shifts but this film is a gem.

8 of 17 users found this helpful89

jdgreen1955

Nov 11, 2011

If for no other reason, see this for the exceptional performances by DiCaprio (and others) and be reminded that good actors can be- convincingly- the characters that they portray and a good director is judged by their performance. In all regards, this movie deserves a 95 out of 100. It'sIf for no other reason, see this for the exceptional performances by DiCaprio (and others) and be reminded that good actors can be- convincingly- the characters that they portray and a good director is judged by their performance. In all regards, this movie deserves a 95 out of 100. It's worth going to the movies, again!… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

NJWolfgang

Feb 22, 2012

Interesting film. A bit slow and the makeup was a very serious issue. The film is filled with quite good performances. Overall a lot better than Invictus or Hereafter. Eastwood has made it clear he understands the nature of relationships and what is revealed to others by those who areInteresting film. A bit slow and the makeup was a very serious issue. The film is filled with quite good performances. Overall a lot better than Invictus or Hereafter. Eastwood has made it clear he understands the nature of relationships and what is revealed to others by those who are involved in those relationships. Eastwood has proven over and over he can tell a story and he does that here and does it quite well.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

r96sk

Feb 12, 2022

A bit of a bore, is 'J. Edgar'.

Leonardo DiCaprio puts in a very good performance as the titular character and his co-stars are all solid, but I just found the way that the story is told to be lacklustre. There aren't, at least for me, any memorable scenes and I wasn't invested in the plotA bit of a bore, is 'J. Edgar'.

Leonardo DiCaprio puts in a very good performance as the titular character and his co-stars are all solid, but I just found the way that the story is told to be lacklustre. There aren't, at least for me, any memorable scenes and I wasn't invested in the plot at any point really. It's semi-watchable, but goes on for too long to be passably so.

It does, as noted, have a neat cast list, with Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts and Judi Dench, among others, involved behind DiCaprio. I think they all give their best, with any issues I have with this 2011 release being away from them. Two duds in a row to start the 2010s from Mr. Eastwood; in my humble opinion, of course.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TigerDiner

Nov 13, 2011

Unfortunately, a bit of a snoozer. The movie is well-acted and nicely photographed. The movie's story never takes off. Why should we care about J. Edgar Hoover? I don't know - I care less about him no than before I saw the film. Hoover was a man of secrets with few friends and perhapsUnfortunately, a bit of a snoozer. The movie is well-acted and nicely photographed. The movie's story never takes off. Why should we care about J. Edgar Hoover? I don't know - I care less about him no than before I saw the film. Hoover was a man of secrets with few friends and perhaps that is why there seems so little to tell.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

wishmaster

Dec 25, 2011

Movie disappointed me, a dark assembly not to the movie was going well, make that left much to be desired, unless the actions of rescue Leo DiCaprio and Naomi Watts, a script that had no point of fascination that kept you glued to the screen.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

popcrtic

Nov 10, 2011

The most Painful movie of the year! It was like listening to geriatric elevator music for well over 2 hours. DiCaprio is a one note Johnny actor, one dimensional, screaming bore. The only redeeming value in this film is Armie Hammer. Stay away from this one!

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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75	#75 Most Discussed Movie of 2011
91	#91 Most Shared Movie of 2011