Howard Hughes was a man of firsts and superlatives. A billionaire, a maverick in Hollywood, a pioneer in defense aeronautics, he alone envisioned the domestic air travel market. He also directed a massive business empire while barricaded inside an office.

Plagued by voices and images that didn’t exist, Howard Hughes struggled with mental illness most of his life. It’s not clear what exact malady ravaged him, only that he fought the battle untreated and mostly alone.

I consider Howard Hughes an interesting guy, but the Aviator doesn’t really convey that. A mishmash of his film studio days and plane crashes, the film yields tremendous screen time to Hollywood starlets. There’s lots of glamor, a little less in the substance department.

What’s good about this movie:

1) The narrative captures many interesting milestones in Hughes life.

2) Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn. If one had to resurrect Katherine Hepburn, I’m glad it was Cate. A masterful performance.

3) Leo DiCaprio was, at points, Howard Hughes.

Verdict: Matinee, DVD/Video Rental.