| Photos (See all 124 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 9) |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | ... | J. Edgar Hoover | |
| Josh Hamilton | ... | Robert Irwin | |
| Geoff Pierson | ... | Mitchell Palmer | |
| Cheryl Lawson | ... | Palmer's Wife | |
| Kaitlyn Dever | ... | Palmer's Daughter | |
| Brady Matthews | ... | Inspector | |
| Gunner Wright | ... | Dwight Eisenhower | |
| David A. Cooper | ... | Franklin Roosevelt | |
| Ed Westwick | ... | Agent Smith | |
| Naomi Watts | ... | Helen Gandy | |
| Kelly Lester | ... | Head Secretary | |
| Jack Donner | ... | Edgar's Father | |
| Judi Dench | ... | Annie Hoover | |
| Dylan Burns | ... | Hoover as a Child | |
| Jordan Bridges | ... | Labor Dept. Lawyer | |
| Jack Axelrod | ... | Caminetti | |
| Jessica Hecht | ... | Emma Goldman | |
| Josh Stamberg | ... | Agent Stokes | |
| Michael James Faradie | ... | Bureau Agent (1919) | |
| Christian Clemenson | ... | Inspector Schell | |
| Billy Smith | ... | Secret Service Officer | |
| Armie Hammer | ... | Clyde Tolson | |
| Michael Rady | ... | Agent Jones | |
| Ken Howard | ... | Harlan Fiske Stone | |
| Scot Carlisle | ... | Agent Williams | |
| Geoff Stults | ... | Raymond Caffrey | |
| Sadie Calvano | ... | Edgar's Niece | |
| Allen Nabors | ... | Agent Appel | |
| Ryan McPartlin | ... | Lawrence Richey | |
| William Bebow | ... | Mr. Walters | |
| Jeffrey Donovan | ... | Robert Kennedy | |
| Joseph Culliton | ... | Credit Director | |
| Scott Johnston | ... | Tailor | |
| Tom Archdeacon | ... | Gangster | |
| Mike Vaughn | ... | Balding Agent | |
| Miles Fisher | ... | Agent Garrison | |
| Stephen F. Schmidt | ... | NJ Officer | |
| Dermot Mulroney | ... | Colonel Schwarzkopf | |
| Josh Lucas | ... | Charles Lindbergh | |
| Zach Grenier | ... | John Condon | |
| Johnny Cicco | ... | Young Agent | |
| Denis O'Hare | ... | Albert Osborne | |
| Damon Herriman | ... | Bruno Hauptmann | |
| Kahil Dotay | ... | Elmer Irey | |
| Lea Coco | ... | Agent Sisk | |
| Scott C. Roe | ... | Wiretap Agent | |
| Ernest Harden Jr. | ... | Hoover's Driver | |
| Roberta Bassin | ... | Roosevelt's Secretary | |
| Steve Monroe | ... | Restaurant Host | |
| Christopher Lee Philips | ... | William | |
| Sean Murphy | ... | Truck Driver | |
| Stephen Root | ... | Arthur Koehler | |
| Gary Werntz | ... | Attorney General | |
| David Clennon | ... | Senator Friendly | |
| Michael O'Neill | ... | Senator McKellar | |
| Eric Larkin | ... | Fred Hunter | |
| Manu Intiraymi | ... | Alvin Karpis | |
| Eric Frentzel | ... | William Mahan | |
| Michael Klinger | ... | Harry Brunette | |
| Evan Charest | ... | Reporter | |
| Emily Alyn Lind | ... | Shirley Temple | |
| Kyle Eastwood | ... | Stork Club Band | |
| Joe Bagg | ... | Stork Club Band | |
| Kye Palmer | ... | Stork Club Band | |
| Jason Harnell | ... | Stork Club Band | |
| Michael Gladis | ... | Stork Club Owner | |
| Jamie LaBarber | ... | Ginger Rogers | |
| Lea Thompson | ... | Lela Rogers | |
| Amanda Schull | ... | Anita Colby | |
| Shaun Daley | ... | Radical | |
| Craig Zucchero | ... | Man at the Counter | |
| Gregory Hoyt | ... | Agent One | |
| Jeff Cockey | ... | Agent Two | |
| Gerald Downey | ... | FBI Agent | |
| Brennan Coulter | ... | Newspaper Boy | |
| Jenny Phagan | ... | Baker's Wife | |
| Tom Christensen | ... | Theater Cashier | |
| Chris Caputo | ... | Bronx Baker | |
| Austin Basis | ... | Bank Teller | |
| Adam Driver | ... | Walter Lyle | |
| Shannon McClain | ... | African American Woman | |
| Justin Alston | ... | African American Man | |
| Eric Matheny | ... | Doctor | |
| Ary Katz | ... | Agent Owens | |
| Duncan Hood | ... | Radio Announcer | |
| Aaron Lazar | ... | Prosecutor Wilentz | |
| Ernest Heinz | ... | Jury Foreman | |
| Teresa Hegji | ... | Hauptmann's Wife | |
| Thomas Langston | ... | Young Boy | |
| Robert Fleet | ... | Edgar's Mother's Doctor | |
| Joe Keyes | ... | Edgar's Brother | |
| Christopher Shyer | ... | Richard Nixon | |
| Maxine Weldon | ... | Hoover's Maid | |
| Larkin Campbell | ... | H.R. Haldeman | |
| Mark Thomason | ... | Nixon Aide | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Dave Abrams | ... | Agent (uncredited) | |
| Phillip Agresta | ... | Courtroom Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Christine Ames | ... | Moviegoer / Courtroom Onlooker (uncredited) | |
| Leslie Augustine | ... | Lindbergh Nanny (uncredited) | |
| James Avise | ... | Doughboy (uncredited) | |
| James Babbin | ... | Washington Post Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Fileena Bahris | ... | Starlet (uncredited) | |
| Emily Banks | ... | Radical Citizen (uncredited) | |
| Christopher Basile | ... | Federal Agent (uncredited) | |
| Brian Bell | ... | Marine Escort (uncredited) | |
| Bradley Bingham | ... | Doughboy (uncredited) | |
| Karl Bittner | ... | Photographer (uncredited) | |
| Andrew Blood | ... | Marine (uncredited) | |
| Ingrid Bloom | ... | Leah (uncredited) | |
| Greg Brown | ... | FBI Agent (uncredited) | |
| Chris Chauncey | ... | 1940's Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Nick de Graffenreid | ... | NY Rookie Officer (uncredited) | |
| Justin Douglas | ... | 1930s Courtroom Onlooker (uncredited) | |
| Aaron Farb | ... | Officer Jones (uncredited) | |
| Jeffrey T Ferguson | ... | Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Liam Ferguson | ... | Radio Production Manager (uncredited) | |
| Joe Garvey | ... | Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Belinda Gosbee | ... | Gangster's Moll (uncredited) | |
| Rey Goyos | ... | Cue Card Holder (uncredited) | |
| David Hill | ... | Paterson Police Officer (uncredited) | |
| James Judice | ... | Courthouse Citizen (uncredited) | |
| George Kardulias | ... | Demonstrator Outside Courthouse at Lindbergh-Hauptmann Trial (uncredited) | |
| Elizabeth Karr | ... | Secretary (uncredited) | |
| Gayle Kate | ... | Juror #10 (uncredited) | |
| John William King | ... | 1935 Report (uncredited) | |
| Kristoffer Kjornes | ... | Dirty Radical (uncredited) | |
| Dash Kolos | ... | Starlet (uncredited) | |
| Sean R. Lake | ... | Senator (uncredited) | |
| Tim Lawes | ... | News Cameraman (uncredited) | |
| Brian Linsley | ... | Bartender (uncredited) | |
| Michael Macoul | ... | Federal Agent Troy (uncredited) | |
| Mike McKee | ... | Court Room Stenographer (uncredited) | |
| David James McKenzie | ... | Courtroom Reporter (uncredited) | |
| Johnny Meyer | ... | Agent (uncredited) | |
| Keith Middlebrook | ... | Agent Newhouse (uncredited) | |
| Barrett Mitchell | ... | Reporter / Cameraman (uncredited) | |
| Travis Myers | ... | 1930's FBI Agent (uncredited) | |
| Jamie Noel | ... | Racetrack Gambler (uncredited) | |
| Jefferson Nogueira | ... | 1930s Lindbergh's Trial Onlooker (uncredited) | |
| Erin Pickett | ... | Lindbergh Juror #5 (uncredited) | |
| Scott Pretty | ... | Agent Downey (uncredited) | |
| Ron Pucillo | ... | Detective (uncredited) | |
| Andrew Schlessinger | ... | FBI Agent Special Assistant to Hoover (uncredited) | |
| Frank Scozzari | ... | Courtroom Observer (uncredited) | |
| David J. Smolar | ... | Radio Tech in Shed Scene (uncredited) | |
| Sean Spence | ... | Reporter #1 (uncredited) | |
| Robert Stilwell | ... | 1930s Courtroom Onlooker (uncredited) | |
| Allison Nichole Torres | ... | Premiere Goer (uncredited) | |
| Sean Velie | ... | Federal Agent (uncredited) | |
| Cameron Webb | ... | Photographer (uncredited) | |
| Corey Webber | ... | New Orleans Pedestrian (uncredited) | |
| Johnno Wilson | ... | Racetrack Gambler (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Clint Eastwood | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Dustin Lance Black | (written by) | |
Produced by | |||
| Clint Eastwood | .... | producer | |
| Brian Grazer | .... | producer | |
| Erica Huggins | .... | executive producer | |
| Robert Lorenz | .... | producer | |
| Tim Moore | .... | executive producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Clint Eastwood | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Tom Stern | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Joel Cox | |||
| Gary Roach | (as Gary D. Roach) | ||
Casting by | |||
| Fiona Weir | |||
Production Design by | |||
| James J. Murakami | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Greg Berry | |||
| Patrick M. Sullivan Jr. | (supervising art director) | ||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Gary Fettis | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Deborah Hopper | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Terry Baliel | .... | hair stylist | |
| Alessandro Bertolazzi | .... | makeup artist: Ms. Watts | |
| Alessandro Bertolazzi | .... | prosthetic makeup effects: Ms. Watts | |
| Kathryn Blondell | .... | hair stylist: Mr. DiCaprio (as Kathryn L. Blondell) | |
| Patricia Dehaney-Le May | .... | hair stylist (as Patricia Dehaney) | |
| Stephanie A. Fowler | .... | makeup artist (as Stephanie Fowler) | |
| Sian Grigg | .... | makeup artist: Mr. DiCaprio | |
| Sian Grigg | .... | prosthetic makeup effects: Mr. DiCaprio | |
| Zoe Hay | .... | makeup artist (as Zoé Hay) | |
| Duncan Jarman | .... | makeup artist: Mr. DiCaprio | |
| Duncan Jarman | .... | prosthetic makeup effects: Mr. DiCaprio | |
| Zoe Marsden | .... | prosthetics painter | |
| Tania McComas | .... | makeup department head | |
| Carol A. O'Connell | .... | hair department head | |
| Jay Wejebe | .... | makeup artist | |
| Hiroshi Yada | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Karen Zanki | .... | hair stylist | |
| Gina W. Bateman | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Sherri Bramlett | .... | key hair stylist (uncredited) | |
| Trent Cotner | .... | assistant makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Lawrence Davis | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
| Connie Grayson | .... | contact lens technician (uncredited) | |
| Cheryl 'Pickles' Kinion | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Barbara Lacy | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Renate Leuschner | .... | wig maker (uncredited) | |
| Chris Lyons | .... | special effects teeth (uncredited) | |
| Annabelle MacNeal | .... | additional makeup (uncredited) | |
| Kristyan Mallett | .... | prosthetics technician (uncredited) | |
| Mark Nieman | .... | prosthetic appliance fabricator (uncredited) | |
| Cristina Patterson Ceret | .... | contact lens coordinator/painter (uncredited) | |
| Michele Tyminski | .... | makeup artist (uncredited) | |
| Robert Wilson | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
Production Management | |||
| Tim Moore | .... | unit production manager | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| David M. Bernstein | .... | first assistant director | |
| Paula Case | .... | second assistant director | |
| Kevin O'Neil | .... | second second assistant director (as Kevin Michael O'Neil) | |
| Alison C. Rosa | .... | additional second assistant director: Washington DC | |
Art Department | |||
| Rich Andrade | .... | set dresser (as Richard Andrade) | |
| Jason Bedig | .... | set dresser | |
| Joseph P. Benitez | .... | labor foreman | |
| Scott Bobbitt | .... | leadperson | |
| Jerrold F. Brooks | .... | propmaker foreman | |
| Chuck Eskridge | .... | standby painter | |
| Joseph C. Fama | .... | general foreman (as Joe Fama) | |
| Scotty Guyson | .... | assistant property master (as Scott Guyson) | |
| Larry Haney | .... | set dresser | |
| Geoff Hubbard | .... | set designer | |
| Ty Jones Jr. | .... | set dresser (as Ty A. Jones) | |
| Carol Kiefer | .... | art department coordinator | |
| Jeffrey Kushon | .... | buyer | |
| Greg Lynch | .... | set dresser | |
| Merdyce McClaran | .... | on-set dresser | |
| David Moreau | .... | set designer | |
| Michael Muscarella | .... | construction coordinator (as Michael A. Muscarella) | |
| Mitchell G. Myers | .... | set dresser (as Mitchell Myers) | |
| Lauren E. Polizzi | .... | set designer (as Lauren Polizzi) | |
| Eric Ramirez | .... | set dresser | |
| Robert B. Samarzich | .... | greens foreman | |
| Mike Schenk | .... | assistant property master (as Michael John Schenk) | |
| Skylar Schmidt | .... | set dresser | |
| Michael Sexton | .... | property master (as Mike Sexton) | |
| Kevin Shaw | .... | assistant property master | |
| Robert Sica | .... | set dresser | |
| Ron Sica | .... | set dresser (as Ronald Sica) | |
| Karen Teneyck | .... | graphic designer | |
| Leslie Warren | .... | set dresser (as Leslie Carol Warren) | |
| Mike Webster | .... | plaster foreman | |
| Christopher Carlson | .... | assistant set decorator (uncredited) | |
| Jeffrey Kushon | .... | assistant set decorator (uncredited) | |
| David R. Lawson | .... | construction medic (uncredited) | |
| James R. Lord | .... | propmaker gang boss (uncredited) | |
| Amanda Moss Serino | .... | assistant set decorator (uncredited) | |
| Roger Prater | .... | stand-by greensman (uncredited) | |
| Bruce Richter | .... | carpenter (uncredited) | |
| Robert Silcock | .... | gang boss (uncredited) | |
| Jay Smith | .... | drapery foreman (uncredited) | |
| Eric Stalker | .... | props (uncredited) | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Ryan D. Compton | .... | special effects technician | |
| Ante Dugandzic | .... | special effects technician | |
| Roger Lifsey | .... | special effects foreman | |
| Ryan A. Riley | .... | special effects foreman (as Ryan Riley) | |
| Steve Riley | .... | special effects supervisor (as Steven Riley) | |
| Leon Smikle | .... | prosthetic and makeup effect (uncredited) | |
Stunts | |||
| Matthew R. Anderson | .... | stunts | |
| Brian Avery | .... | stunts | |
| Kevin Patrick Burke | .... | stunts | |
| Jacob Chambers | .... | stunts | |
| J. Mark Donaldson | .... | stunts | |
| Dennis Fitzgerald | .... | stunts | |
| Justin Gant | .... | stunts | |
| Thayr Harris | .... | stunts | |
| Jody Hart | .... | stunts | |
| Larry Holt | .... | stunts | |
| Tim James | .... | stunts | |
| Brett A. Jones | .... | stunts (as Brett Jones) | |
| Rick McCallum | .... | stunts | |
| Dustin Meier | .... | stunts (as Dustin J. Meier) | |
| Rene Mousseux | .... | stunts (as René Paul Mousseux) | |
| Dalton Simons | .... | stunts | |
| Christopher Tardieu | .... | stunts | |
| Chuck Waters | .... | stunts | |
| Jacob Chambers | .... | stunt double: Armie Hammer (uncredited) | |
| Cheryl Lawson | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Talon Reid | .... | stunt performer (uncredited) | |
| Buddy Van Horn | .... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) | |
Casting Department | |||
| Tony Hobbs | .... | extras casting | |
| Geoffrey Miclat | .... | casting associate: New York | |
| Alice Searby | .... | casting associate | |
| Jackie Sollitto | .... | casting assistant | |
| Dagmar Wittmer | .... | casting: Washington DC | |
| Tyler Fahringer | .... | extras casting (uncredited) | |
| Ruth Key | .... | casting assistant (uncredited) | |
| Travis Otsuji | .... | extras casting (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Anthony Almaraz | .... | costumer (as Antonio Almaraz) | |
| Terry Anderson | .... | assistant costume designer | |
| Amy Arnold | .... | costumer | |
| Cha Blevins | .... | costume supervisor (as Deborah Cha Blevins) | |
| Corey Bronson | .... | set costumer (as Corey C. Bronson) | |
| Matt Chase | .... | costumer | |
| Bren Cook | .... | ager/dyer | |
| Tangi Crawford | .... | key costumer | |
| Ann Culotta | .... | set costumer | |
| Carmen Frost | .... | costumer | |
| Adrienne Greshock | .... | costumer | |
| Monica Haynes-Nino | .... | costumer | |
| Kim M. Holly | .... | costumer | |
| Robert Iannaccone | .... | key costumer (as Bob Iannaccone) | |
| Cookie Lopez | .... | costumer: Mr. DiCaprio (as Cookie Lopez Fahey) | |
| Marcy Rector | .... | costumer | |
| Jack Taggart | .... | head ager and dyer | |
| Francine Lecoultre | .... | costume textile artist (uncredited) | |
| Ramsay Williams | .... | costumer (uncredited) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Jill Bogdanowicz | .... | digital film colorist | |
| David Cox | .... | assistant editor (as David S. Cox) | |
| Blu Murray | .... | assistant editor | |
| Bob Peishel | .... | digital intermediate producer | |
| Mark Sahagun | .... | digital intermediate editor | |
| Darin Wooldridge | .... | home video mastering colorist (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Robert Fernandez | .... | music scoring mixer (as Bobby Fernandez) | |
| Ashley Irwin | .... | conductor | |
| Ashley Irwin | .... | orchestrator | |
| Gennady Loktionov | .... | arranger | |
| Chris McGeary | .... | music editor | |
| Kevin Bassinson | .... | music editor (uncredited) | |
| Ron Finn | .... | music editor (uncredited) | |
| Tom Hardisty | .... | score recordist (uncredited) | |
| Sally Stevens | .... | vocal contractor: choir (uncredited) | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Ronald B. Dinson Sr. | .... | picture car captain (as Ronald B. Dunson) | |
| Dom Rodriguez | .... | transportation captain | |
| Alana Stelling | .... | transportation captain (as Alana Weathers) | |
| Larry Stelling | .... | transportation coordinator (as Larry L. Stelling) | |
| Tony Barattini | .... | production van driver operator (uncredited) | |
| Neil Chisholm | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| L. Chip Crosby Jr. | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Anthony J. Mignano | .... | driver (uncredited) | |
| Kirk Roberts | .... | driver: Clint Eastwood (uncredited) | |
Other crew | |||
| Kyle David Crosby | .... | production secretary: Washington DC (as Kyle D. Crosby) | |
| Tony X. Deale | .... | assistant: Mr. Moore | |
| Max Deleo | .... | set staff assistant | |
| Lily Fettis | .... | staff assistant | |
| Neale Fishback | .... | key assistant location manager | |
| Carol Flaisher | .... | assistant location manager: Washington DC | |
| Matt Goldstein | .... | set production assistant | |
| Kristin Gomez | .... | first assistant production accountant | |
| Jason Gondek | .... | production accountant (as Jason D. Gondek) | |
| Elizabeth Ridley Hagan | .... | second assistant accountant: Washington DC | |
| Holly Hagy | .... | supervising production coordinator | |
| Jeff Hubbard | .... | set staff assistant | |
| Jason Irizarry | .... | assistant: Mr. DiCaprio | |
| Jason Irizarry | .... | security: Mr. Di Caprio | |
| Pat Jackson | .... | studio teacher | |
| Nancy G. James | .... | craft service (as Nancy James) | |
| Krys Karns | .... | assistant accountant (as Krystine Karns) | |
| Austin Lapierre | .... | assistant production coordinator | |
| Mable Lawson-McCrary | .... | script supervisor (as Mable Lawson McCrary) | |
| Beatriz Madrigal | .... | assistant accountant | |
| Joe Mason | .... | staff assistant | |
| Mike James Masumoto | .... | key assistant location manager (as Michael James Masumoto) | |
| Darin McCormick-Millett | .... | titles producer | |
| Rachel McDonald | .... | set staff assistant | |
| Mark McSorley | .... | staff assistant | |
| Jessica Meier | .... | assistant: Mr. Lorenz | |
| Carla Meyer | .... | dialect coach: Mr. DiCaprio | |
| Patrick Mignano | .... | location manager (as Patrick O. Mignano) | |
| Crystal Munson | .... | set staff assistant | |
| Scott Nelson | .... | technical advisor: FBI | |
| Kyle Oliver | .... | key assistant location manager | |
| Lauren Porcelli | .... | assistant: Ms. Watts | |
| Ferguson Reid | .... | set medic | |
| Jill Remis | .... | assistant: Mr. DiCaprio | |
| Kristina Rivera | .... | assistant: Mr. Eastwood | |
| Jean-Louis Rodrigue | .... | movement specialist: Mr. DiCaprio | |
| Joe Rogan | .... | staff assistant | |
| Adee Serrao | .... | staff assistant | |
| Joey Slamon | .... | assistant: Mr. Huggins | |
| Linda Stelling | .... | set medic | |
| Brian K. Stuart | .... | craft service | |
| June Suepunpuck | .... | staff assistant | |
| Jason Suhrke | .... | set production assistant | |
| May Tam | .... | production coordinator: Washington DC | |
| Landon Trawny | .... | assistant accountant | |
| Lucas Urgoiti | .... | production secretary | |
| Chuck Webb | .... | set staff assistant | |
| Sean Yopchick | .... | set staff assistant | |
| Danielle Zloto | .... | assistant: Mr. Grazer | |
| Joe Achard | .... | location assistant (uncredited) | |
| Susan Bliss | .... | post script services (uncredited) | |
| Brian M. Chilcoat | .... | set production assistant (uncredited) | |
| Sue Chipperton | .... | dog trainer (uncredited) | |
| Nicole K.L.N. Ebeo | .... | travel coordinator (uncredited) | |
| Robert L. Fiks | .... | location assistant: Washington DC (uncredited) | |
| Nicholas Glekas | .... | location assistant: Washington DC (uncredited) | |
| Alfred 'Fred' Gundry | .... | production assistant (uncredited) | |
| Elizabeth Himelstein | .... | dialect coach: Naomi Watts (uncredited) | |
| Lauran Tracy Howard | .... | location assistant (uncredited) | |
| Blair Howley | .... | production assistant (uncredited) | |
| Mihir Lath | .... | set production assistant (uncredited) | |
| David R. Lawson | .... | medic (uncredited) | |
| Don Mann | .... | location scout (uncredited) | |
| Braeden Marcott | .... | motion capture actor (uncredited) | |
| Josh Murray | .... | stand-in (uncredited) | |
| Matthew Dillon Noonan | .... | key assistant location manager: Washington D.C. (uncredited) | |
| Marvin Ruffin | .... | location assistant (uncredited) | |
| Bridget Shaw | .... | location assistant (uncredited) | |
| Pavel Sterba | .... | key assistant location manager (uncredited) | |
| Erin Stern | .... | additional set production assistant (uncredited) | |
| Jeremy Tan | .... | location assistant (uncredited) | |
| Karl J. Weschta | .... | armorer (uncredited) | |
| Jennifer White | .... | dialect coach: Damon Herriman (uncredited) | |
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| Salvatore Giuliano | Der Baader Meinhof Komplex | Il divo: La spettacolare vita di Giulio Andreotti | La meglio gioventù | El diputado |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Biography section | IMDb USA section |
J. Edgar tells the story of the man and his agency. J. Edgar Hoover for better or worse shaped the history of the last century as few others have. He was a pioneer in the field of law enforcement a reformer who made the Federal Bureau of Investigation free from political corruption, gave it modern crime fighting methods, and near deity status among the masses. I've always maintained that had Hoover just retired at the end of World War II his historical reputation would be much higher today. But as he points out in this film no one shares power in Washington, DC and few ever give it up willingly.
All this and at the same time being a frightened man, way deep in his closet's closet as a gay man. Most gay folk will tell you now even in this post Stonewall age the hardest part of coming out is to family. In Hoover's case it was his mother played here by Judy Dench who was an imperious Southern bred lady who tells Leonardo DiCaprio as Hoover that above all she does not want to have a 'daffodil' for a son. The gay in him is pretty much repressed until he meets Clyde Tolson who becomes Deputy Director and Hoover's silent partner for decades.
In real life Tolson who is played here by Armie Hammer was something of a stabilizing influence on the real Hoover, many times talking to him or even subtly countermanding moves that would be public relations disasters for the image conscious Hoover. In his life few knew of his role in the agency and fewer in Hoover's personal life.
The other key player in Hoover's life is Naomi Watts as personal secretary Helen Gandy who was that for almost his entire time with the FBI. He tries clumsily to get a romance going, but settles for her just being the woman who kept the secrets for the man who held all the nation's secrets.
Director Clint Eastwood who will make fewer and fewer appearances in front of the camera at his age gets some great performances from his cast in a story that takes up the middle of the American 20th Century. Leonardo DiCaprio is so good you absolutely think you are looking at Hoover himself. Helping in that is one of the greatest body and facial makeup jobs the cinema has ever witnessed.
Henry Kissinger once said of Richard Nixon that he was a brilliant man who might have not fallen or even done the things he did good and bad if he ever felt loved. That could easily have been J. Edgar's story as well. One wonders also if Hoover had been born three or for generations later to see the Stonewall Rebellion in his youth how that might have shaped him as well.
J. Edgar is one remarkable film from the remarkable team of Eastwood and DiCaprio.