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We Are the Sinners: J. Edgar Trailer

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (21)



J.-Edgar-Hoover-Leonardo-DiCaprio-16-535x357.jpeg

J. Edgar Hoover is one of the most fascinating figures in American history. Son of immigrants, he was the first director of the FBI and ruled it as his own fiefdom for nearly four decades. Only death could remove him from the office he defined, keeping his position through six presidencies before being felled by a heart attack at age 77. Taking over a small federal agency with only 650 employees, he left it an empire of tens of thousands with a presence in dozens of countries. He spearheaded the adoption of modern law enforcement techniques and forensics even while becoming an increasingly polarizing character as the decades passed. Hoover was untouchable, building up secret files on political opponents, waging covert smear campaigns against anyone he saw as a threat to the America he wanted. He was a modern Caesar, great for exactly the same reasons he was terrible.

A biography of the man is one hell of an undertaking, if only because there are so many decades to cover to do any justice that you’re faced with the unenviable task of either cutting massive amounts of material, or at the very least trying to pull off either multiple actors in the role or using make-up and CGI to make the aging realistic. And that’s without even getting into the nuance of the story to be told.

Leonardo DiCaprio starring and Clint Eastwood directing? There are about three actors and three directors that could be trusted with this project. And here’s the trailer that proves it.




Damn, that looks good.









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Comments

I hope this isn’t one of those “he was just misunderstood“ pieces. I hope Eastwood gives this story the full measure of who and what Hoover really was. He was a law enforcement revolutionary, a homophobe, gay, racist, paranoid, schemer, crook, and a genius.

Posted by: Pookie at September 20, 2011 10:27 AM

DiCaprio pulls the same performance in Inception too.

Posted by: d at September 20, 2011 10:30 AM

*sigh* Does it make me unamerican to loathe Clint Eastwood films? There's just something about his style of directing that makes me feel he doesn't respect or trust the intelligence of his audience. Whether this looks good or not, I won't be lining up to get Dirty Harry-ed at the theatres.

Posted by: melia at September 20, 2011 10:40 AM

Spot on, Pookie.

But do we see Leo in a dress?

Posted by: , at September 20, 2011 10:47 AM

I think if this movie works, the credit will belong as much, if not more, to Dustin Lance Black, who triumphed with Milk and may well again here.

Posted by: ChristianH at September 20, 2011 10:50 AM

Also, re: the above comments. I too dislike Eastwood as a director, other than Letters From Iwo Jima. And DLB has said that the movie will include cross-dressing.

Posted by: ChristianH at September 20, 2011 10:54 AM

, beat me to it.

I was wondering how bad his first name had to be that he would go by Edgar instead? Oh, he didn't want to be a John?

Posted by: BWeaves at September 20, 2011 11:00 AM

This looks good but Leo's accent sounds like he's trying too hard. Or not enough. I can't tell which.

Posted by: Paultera at September 20, 2011 11:41 AM

Looks fantastic. The Leo haters have come back out since he had such an awesome year last year, but boy can that guy act.

And Michael Weston is in it!

Posted by: elizabeth at September 20, 2011 11:45 AM

Oh my, look at that cast!

And is it just me, or does old Leo look a lot like Philip Seymour Hoffman?

Posted by: PP Matter at September 20, 2011 12:01 PM

Don't get me wrong. I love Leo. I think he's a phenomenal actor. His accent was just bugging me in this a bit.

Posted by: Paultera at September 20, 2011 12:05 PM

I think we posted our comments at the same time! I definitely didn't mean you. I love him too, but I agree that the accent was a little disarming at first.

Posted by: elizabeth at September 20, 2011 12:25 PM

...Do we think that Armie Hammer will be any good? I really want him to be more than a pretty face and a pretty voice ...

Posted by: Samantha at September 20, 2011 1:59 PM

I don't know WHAT you people are talking about. Clint Eastwood is one of the best directors ever to walk onto a movie set. And if you asked any actor or crew member who's ever worked with him, they'd agree.

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at September 20, 2011 1:59 PM

Not hatin' a brown eyed Leo...

Posted by: Nadine at September 20, 2011 2:24 PM

I think Michael Westen found out that Hoover burned him.

Posted by: LG at September 20, 2011 3:43 PM

I love Leo AND Clint so, and Milk was phenomenal... this preview makes me tingly.

Posted by: chanohack at September 20, 2011 3:47 PM

more history according to hollywood on the way.

decaprio is one of our finest actors but aren't there a
couple of older guys to play howard hughes and j. edgar
hoover? ... and the accent is ridiculous.

Posted by: snake at September 20, 2011 4:07 PM

Woah. Looks like an intense drama. Big fan of Leo, natch.

Posted by: grace b at September 20, 2011 7:04 PM

racist he may have been but he did bring down the KKK.

Posted by: Utah Dynamo at September 20, 2011 8:17 PM

So, are they implying that it is overbearing mother's fault that he turned out the way he did? Always the mother...Freud would be proud

Posted by: Alarmjaguar at September 22, 2011 2:18 AM