WAS J. HOOVER A CROSSDRESSER?

Leonardo Di Caprio as J. Hoover. Courtesy Photo

WAS J. HOOVER A FASCIST? 

There are those that say the former G. MAN (GANG BUSTER) used his seat in the FBI to blackmail politicians to get himself in the spotlight. Yes, seems he was that weirdo that we see on the screen.

In a way it was a treat to see this movie. But then, being older – I remember those days of “Gang Busters”, Killers and creepy sleazy guys like tubby Hoover. But the treat almost put me to sleep.

The movie photography is “super” – but kind of falls apart with all the flashbacks. The scenes jump around too many times to get a clear explanation of what’s going on.  And that blame should go to Director Clint Eastwood. The makeup is another problem. While Di Caprio aged well on the screen his sidekick Armie Hammer (Hoover’s #2 man) did not age well at all on the screen. The makeup was hideous. He looked like he had just left the Frankenstein Castle.

What kind of a person was Hoover? Well, I’ve never met him, but I’m supposing that he was a fat ass bore who thought he was important. He was paranoid, a control freak and a complete asshole.

We have all heard the stories about how Hoover liked to cross-dress. In this version on the screen there is only one view of him doing that. It was when his mother died – he put on her dress in her bedroom and her beads around his neck. This could be interpreted a couple of ways. One – he wanted to be close to his mother. Two – he was a closeted drag queen that was dying to wear that dress.

J. Hoover and his sidekick were inseparable. They had breakfast every day with each other and they also always had dinner together every day. This was the weirdest love affair that I have ever seen. Maybe the younger man (Armie Hammer) was just sticking around for the vast Estate and the money – which he got in the end. Although – the way he looked, he didn’t have many days left in his life.

At the screening that I attended the audience was at least 30 years old and older. I don’t think that Teens would even understand what the hell was going on. Even though the plot was interesting – it would probably work better on the stage with a proper audience. Actually – I’d love to see it as a musical. Can’t you just see Hoover and his sidekick dancing in the FBI Office? Let’s put Hoover in a gorgeous 30’s dress, and his boyfriend in his usual tight ass suit. Yep – the Broadway stage is just dying for this one. Would anyone like to write the score?

RATING: THREE BOXES OF POPCORN!!! – trademarked-

 (((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and he also produced and hosted a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))

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