Martin Scorcese’s new film about Howard Hughes. Leonardo Dicaprio does a great job as Hughes and the movie does not shy away from dealing with Hughes’ well-publicized demons.

LRC readers will particularly enjoy the account of Hughes’ battle with Owen Brewster, a corrupt senator who was attempting to drive Hughs’ TWA out of business at the behest of Hughes’ competitor (and Brewster’s prime benefactor) Pan Am. Alan Alda perfectly captures the combination of utter sleaze and self-righteousness that typifies the politician who uses their power to create monopolies for their contributors while claiming they are only concerned with “the public good.” A particular gem is when Brewster tells Hughes that one transcontinental carrier can better serve the public if it is not “distracted” by competition. The film also shows how Hughes himself was able to play the political game, whining and dining Pentagon brass to get them to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on his “Hercules” airplane and telling an aide he didn’t want Senators bribed, he wanted them bought.

Martin Scorcese’s new film about Howard Hughes. Leonardo Dicaprio does a great job as Hughes and the movie does not shy away from dealing with Hughes’ well-publicized demons.

LRC readers will particularly enjoy the account of Hughes’ battle with Owen Brewster, a corrupt senator who was attempting to drive Hughs’ TWA out of business at the behest of Hughes’ competitor (and Brewster’s prime benefactor) Pan Am. Alan Alda perfectly captures the combination of utter sleaze and self-righteousness that typifies politicians who use their power to create monopolies for their contributors while claiming they are only concerned with “the public good.” A particular gem is when Brewster tells Hughes that one transcontinental carrier can better serve the public if it is not “distracted” by competition. The film also shows how Hughes himself was able to play the political game, whining and dining Pentagon brass to get them to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on his “Hercules” airplane and telling an aide he didn’t want Senators bribed, he wanted them bought.