Home > Movies > The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover > Reviews

The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover Review: The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover is a frustrating "Jekyll-and-Hyde" kind of movie, one part sleazeball exploitation film, one part rabid pit bull "evening the score" with an American demagogue who more than deserved it. There's an undeniable passion in Larry Cohen's film, and that passion infuses it with a great deal of strength. Unfortunately, Cohen's lack of technique and inability to really get underneath the skin of the character or to truly explore the dramatic possibilities inherent in the story seriously undermine that passion. The result is a rollercoaster of a film that careers wildly between moments of delight and moments of horror, and ends up a big, sloppy mess. Fortunately, Cohen had the good sense to hire Broderick Crawford to portray the title character, and the ageing actor grabbed the opportunity and ran with it for all it was worth. It's not a totally successful performance -- the material is too deranged to allow for that -- but it's fascinating and Crawford always holds the screen whenever he's on (which is most of the time). There are also some noteworthy (if, again, not totally successful) supporting turns from the likes of Jose Ferrer, Rip Torn and, especially, Dan Dailey. Hoover doesn't work, but on its own terms, it's enthralling. Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Browse More Movies:
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z