The Aviator (2004) Movie Review: The Rise and Fall of Howard Hughes

The Aviator is a sweeping biographical drama about ambition, aviation, Hollywood, wealth, obsession, and the personal struggles of one of the most fascinating figures of the 20th century.

Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, the film follows Hughes from his early years as a wealthy young filmmaker to his rise as an aviation pioneer and businessman.

But behind the money, success, and groundbreaking achievements is a man increasingly trapped by his own fears and compulsions.

The movie isn't simply about how Hughes became successful.

It's about how his greatest strengths—his ambition, perfectionism, and refusal to accept limits—also became some of his greatest weaknesses.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead.

The Story

Howard Hughes inherits a fortune while still young and decides to use his money to pursue two passions: filmmaking and aviation.

Instead of living quietly as a wealthy heir, Hughes wants to build something extraordinary.

He begins working on Hell's Angels, an enormous aviation film that becomes one of Hollywood's most ambitious productions.

Hughes spends years and huge amounts of money trying to make the aerial sequences perfect.

The production becomes increasingly expensive and complicated.

But Hughes refuses to compromise.

His obsession with perfection becomes one of the defining characteristics of his personality.

Eventually, Hell's Angels is completed and becomes a major success.

But Hughes isn't satisfied with simply making movies.

He wants to change aviation.

Howard Hughes and Aviation

Hughes begins investing heavily in aircraft design and eventually creates his own aviation company.

He becomes involved in developing faster and more advanced planes.

For Hughes, flying isn't simply a business.

It's a personal obsession.

He wants to break records and push aircraft beyond what people believe is possible.

His determination leads him to pilot experimental aircraft himself.

One of his most important achievements comes when he sets a new speed record while flying across the United States.

The achievement makes him a national celebrity.

But Hughes doesn't stop there.

He wants to go faster.

He wants to build better aircraft.

And he wants to prove that American aviation can reach new heights.

The H-1 Racer

One of Hughes's major aviation projects is the H-1 Racer.

The aircraft is designed for speed and efficiency.

Hughes personally becomes involved in its development and testing.

Eventually, he flies the aircraft and sets a world speed record.

The achievement demonstrates his extraordinary determination.

But it also shows the risks he's willing to take.

Hughes repeatedly places himself in dangerous situations because he believes progress requires taking risks.

His ambition is both inspiring and destructive.

The TWA Battle

Hughes eventually becomes involved with Trans World Airlines, known as TWA.

He wants the airline to use advanced aircraft capable of long-distance travel.

However, Hughes becomes involved in a major conflict with rival businessman Juan Trippe, who controls Pan Am.

Trippe wants government approval to establish a major international airline network.

Hughes sees this as a threat to TWA.

The battle becomes increasingly political.

Hughes uses his wealth and influence to fight back.

His obsession with aviation turns into a personal war.

He isn't willing to let his competitors decide the future of the industry.

His Relationships

Despite his enormous ambitions, Hughes's personal life is equally complicated.

He becomes involved with several famous women, including actresses Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner.

Cate Blanchett plays Katharine Hepburn, who develops a relationship with Hughes.

Their relationship is passionate but difficult.

Hepburn understands Hughes's eccentric personality, but his increasing obsession and emotional instability eventually put pressure on their relationship.

Later, Hughes becomes involved with Ava Gardner, played by Kate Beckinsale.

Gardner also struggles to deal with Hughes's increasingly unpredictable behavior.

His relationships show that success cannot protect Hughes from loneliness.

He can attract almost anyone, but maintaining a normal relationship becomes increasingly difficult.

Hughes's Mental Health Struggles

One of the most important parts of the movie is Hughes's obsessive-compulsive behavior.

As the story progresses, his compulsions become increasingly severe.

He becomes terrified of contamination.

He repeatedly washes his hands and becomes obsessed with germs.

Eventually, his fears become so overwhelming that they interfere with his ability to function normally.

One of the movie's most disturbing sequences shows Hughes becoming trapped in a room.

He is unable to stop repeating certain actions and phrases.

His wealth and power can't protect him from what is happening inside his own mind.

This is where the movie becomes less about aviation and more about psychological imprisonment.

The Crash

Hughes's obsession with testing aircraft eventually leads to a devastating accident.

While testing the XF-11 reconnaissance aircraft, Hughes loses control.

The aircraft crashes into houses in Los Angeles.

Hughes is seriously injured.

He suffers severe physical trauma and is forced to recover while dealing with his worsening psychological problems.

The crash becomes a turning point.

His body survives, but his confidence and mental stability begin deteriorating.

Yet Hughes still refuses to abandon aviation.

The Hercules

Hughes becomes determined to complete another enormous project: the H-4 Hercules, commonly known as the "Spruce Goose."

The aircraft is massive and controversial.

Critics question whether Hughes can actually make it work.

Government officials and competitors also doubt him.

But Hughes refuses to give up.

Eventually, he personally pilots the aircraft for a short test flight.

It only remains airborne briefly, but for Hughes, it proves that his vision was possible.

The moment represents both his greatest triumph and the beginning of his decline.

The Senate Hearing

Hughes later becomes the target of political criticism over the cost of his aircraft projects.

A Senate investigation questions his use of government money.

Hughes is forced to defend himself publicly.

His reputation is at risk.

The hearing becomes a major battle between Hughes and his political enemies.

Despite his deteriorating mental state, he manages to fight back.

His knowledge of aviation allows him to expose weaknesses in the accusations against him.

He successfully defends his work.

But the victory doesn't solve his deeper problems.

The Final Breakdown

By the end of the movie, Hughes has achieved extraordinary things.

He has made successful films.

He has broken aviation records.

He has built revolutionary aircraft.

He has fought powerful businessmen and politicians.

Yet his psychological condition has become increasingly severe.

He isolates himself.

He becomes obsessed with cleanliness and repetition.

He spends hours alone.

His success has not made him happier.

In fact, his relentless pursuit of perfection has helped trap him inside his own mind.

The Ending

The movie ends with Hughes working on his next aviation plans.

He repeats the same phrase again and again:

"The way of the future."

The words reflect both his optimism and his obsession.

Hughes has always believed that the future can be built through ambition and innovation.

But by the end, the phrase sounds different.

It no longer feels like a confident prediction.

It feels like a man desperately trying to convince himself that he still controls his future.

The ending leaves Hughes physically alive and financially powerful, but emotionally isolated.

What Makes The Aviator Work?

Leonardo DiCaprio's performance is the heart of the movie.

He portrays Hughes as both brilliant and deeply vulnerable.

His confidence in business meetings contrasts sharply with his fear and compulsive behavior when he's alone.

Martin Scorsese also gives the movie a grand visual style that matches Hughes's larger-than-life personality.

The aircraft sequences are spectacular, while the Hollywood scenes capture the glamour of the era.

What Doesn't Work as Well?

The movie covers a huge period of Hughes's life, so some events move quickly.

Several important relationships and business conflicts are necessarily simplified.

Viewers who want a complete biography may find that the film leaves out significant details.

The film is also long and sometimes slow, especially during its more psychological sections.

But that pacing allows the movie to focus on Hughes's gradual transformation.

Is The Aviator Worth Watching?

Absolutely.

The Aviator works both as a historical drama and as a character study.

It's fascinating to watch Hughes achieve things that seem impossible while simultaneously losing control of his personal life.

The movie shows that ambition can be a powerful force.

But it also shows what can happen when ambition becomes obsession.

Final Thoughts

The Aviator is ultimately the story of a man who refused to accept limits.

Howard Hughes wanted to make bigger movies, faster airplanes, and a better future.

He succeeded at many of those things.

But his pursuit of perfection came with a devastating cost.

His wealth couldn't protect him.

His fame couldn't save him.

And his intelligence couldn't completely control the fears inside his mind.

That's what makes his story so compelling.

Hughes wasn't simply a genius or a troubled millionaire.

He was both.

He changed Hollywood and aviation while becoming increasingly isolated from the world around him.

Final Verdict – The Aviator is a beautifully crafted biographical drama powered by Leonardo DiCaprio's remarkable performance and Martin Scorsese's direction. It's an ambitious, fascinating, and sometimes unsettling look at a man whose extraordinary determination helped him change the future while slowly consuming his own life.

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