J. Edgar

this is london“Clint needs to stop now...” Hoover was one of the darkest figures in US history but Eastwood and his scriptwriter have forgiven all in a hazy resignation to old age coming to everyone and love being what matters...

The Telegraph“Under-lit and over-reverential...” Eastwood’s film says more about its director than its subject, and sadly, what it says isn’t flattering...

Empire“Might have been more satisfying as a HBO miniseries...” A well acted but unfocused study of one of the 20th century’s most colourful characters...

Little White Lies“This muddled melodrama adds up to a missed opportunity...” All too often, Black’s script sinks into sickly melodrama when dealing with Hoover’s relationship with Tolson...

Total Film “Again marks Eastwood as a significant chronicler of American history...” Some will find it ponderous and pompous – it lacks the panache of Michael Mann’s epics, the momentum of Scorsese’s – but J. Edgar is a handsome, ambitious period drama full of modern-day parallels...

Time Out“Strange, dark and ambivalent...” A pleasing, intelligent film happy to describe Hoover’s behaviour as monstrous but too balanced and searching to damn him as a monster...

Radio Times“Leonardo DiCaprio gives a towering performance...” Eastwood's film is an excellent portrait of Hoover the man, but is less successful as a portrait of his times...

Guardian“A sonorous History Channel drone...” The effect of Hoover on America itself is largely ignored, its speculations are cramped, and its actors hampered with plastic, padding and wigs...