I remember Tommy Lee Jones' stunning portrayal of Howard Hughes in the 1977 television mini-series The Amazing Howard Hughes. It's the role that made Tommy Lee Jones a star. (By the way, the full 1977 version is NOT available on DVD, just a crummy hack-job available from AMAZON - don't buy it!.) If anyone was going to improve on that telling of the Howard Hughes story, it would be Martin Scorcese. However, The Aviator is not an improvement. It is an equally good movie that illuminates Hughes from a somewhat different perspective.

The Aviator deals more with the specific pressures - medical, personal, and business - that pushed Hughes into mental illness. Kate Blanchett is wonderful as Katherine Hepburn who was romantically involved with Hughes for some time. Leonardo DiCaprio projects the perfect mix of manic drive and ambition, mixed with pathetic vulnerability.

Kate Beckinsale does a good job as Ava Gardner who helps Hughes fight back, temporarily, against his mental demons. A highlight for me was getting to see Hughes' beautiful and dangerous airplanes. Scorsese has created a multi-layered portrait of a very interesting man who has left a legacy of speculation and fascination. Highly recommended.