Amelia

I saw this film last Saturday Oct. 24th. I come from a family of Pilots. Both my Parents are Pilots as well as Brother in Laws Nephews and Nieces. I love this film. It is Beautifully photographed. It adds real depth to Amelia's life her struggles and her triumphs. She was truly a brave Aviatrix. When the world and women needed a hero someone to look up to Amelia was there. My Parents loved it. My Parents have been flying since the end of WWII 1945. We have owned many airplanes as a family. My favorite was our Cessna 195 I LOVED IT !! Most of the audience when I saw it were us older folks who knew about Amelia. In fact one of the women there that sat next to me was taught or inspired by Amelia to Fly. She said it was just like seeing Amelia again, she was in her 90's. She told me some stories after the film was over. The story is crafted very well. Indeed. Told from the point of view of the around the world flight, with flashbacks to Amelia's earlier memories and struggles flying and promoting herself as a Pilot. She Started the 99's I have friends who are in the 99's still. A lot of important early aviation history was woven into the film. And, where did the producers get all of those rare airplanes. I know some are CGI and some are models. All of the Airplanes had Round engines. Real Airplanes have round engines and sometimes 2 wings. I live in San Luis Obispo and there is a Lockheed L-10 just like Amelia's plane based at Santa Maria airport along with a Lockheed L-12 the smaller version of the L-10. I have seen the L-12 but the lady who owns the L-10 keeps it under wraps. This film deserves to be viewed and awarded with many awards. Go see Amelia. enjoy. Tim

I'm sorry, if this movie gets nominated for any Oscars, the only exception may be for the clothing, the Academy will lose all credibility. All year long, I have been looking for 1, ONE great movie for 2009 and sadly, this has been satisfied only by the hangover. I mean, this movie had no depth and no heart. The director and the writer did a subpar job of making us connect to the movie. Although Hilary Swank is a great actress, her performance is not Oscar worthy. It may be golden globe worthy but there are other actress that deserve to be recognized. I'm sure due to technicality, they might consider her. In the movie, the people that were involved in her life and seemed to play an important part seemed so distant and worthless in the movie. For these people to be soooo important (her husband Richard Gere) you quickly forgot about him and it seemed as if he was an accessory. I love Hillary Swank to death but this may be one of those movies in her portfolio that had soooo much potential, but failed to bring out any excitement. :-(

You have to admit it...Hilary Swank just explodes with charisma (it shows up whenever she smiles on screen). From her Oscar winning turn in 'Boys Don't Cry',to her second AA winning turn in Clint Eastwood's 'Million Dollar Baby',and now as early flight pioneer, Amelia Earhart,she has charmed movie audiences all over the map. Mira Nair (director of such fine film fare as 'Salaam Bombay','Monsoon Wedding','The Namesake',to mention but a few) directs from a well written screenplay,with world class character development,by Ronald Bass & Anna Hamilton Phelan. Amelia is painted as a true feminist icon who led a life of adventure & romance (and not just a little dash of the free spirited bohemian,which was rare for that time). Richard Gere is well cast as her mentor/lover/husband,George Putnam. The rest of the ensemble take on their roles with panache (among others,Ewan McGregor,as Gene Vidal,Christopher Eccleston,who has previously shared screen time with McGregor in Danny Boyle's excellent,'Shallow Grave',and keep your eyes open for a winning performance by newcomer,William Cuddy as a young Gore Vidal,years before he would become a author/screen writer). Despite a few minor quirks in the historical department (most of which will go over the heads of all but those in the know),this is a fine film that will probably enjoy a re-newed life when it turns up on DVD or Blu Ray disc. Rated PG by the MPAA,this film serves up a rude word or two,some mild adult situations,involving adultery & some on screen smoking & drinking.

I found this to be exactly as a few had described: "a fair movie, not great but not bad, either." I'm not surprised it didn't do well at the box office even though I cannot pan the film. I enjoyed it. Even though I liked it, something was missing: maybe an edge and a few things to get us more involved with the characters. It was hard to warm up to either Earhart (Hilary Swank) or her husband George Putnam (Richard Gere.). Swank and Gere usually play interesting roles so to see them so bland here is a bit of a surprise. Kudos to Stuart Dryburgh, director of photography, for a very pretty picture. He's done some nice work in the past, such as "The Painted Veil." The airplanes and the overall look of the 1930s is wonderful in here, often capturing my attention more than the dialog. Overall, it's a pleasant film, a romance more than an adventure. Don't let naysayers discourage you from seeing it, yet on the other hand, don't spend big bucks on it, either.

A most enjoyable movie and I had NEVER heard of Amelia Earheart before I watched this movie, so there, did i have to? She was one gutsy woman, portrayed by this film, who put flying first and love second, that is why clearly Richard Gere had to take a peripheral role in this role and though I feel Gere was the wrong man for the job this time around, he did the job well enough. the British Christopher Eccleston produced an extraordinary American accent playing Fred Noonan and Ewan McGregors role was comfortable enough. the flying element of the film has received a lot of criticism, by those who understand aviation and by those (me included) who know nothing of aviation. As an aviation spectacle, the film definitely works because this is a love story of one woman with flying, not one womans love story with George Putnam or the other 'chap'! let us clear be about that and enjoy the film for what it is. Not award winning at Oscar level but entertaining and interesting. Some of the facts may have been changed around but not the basics, again I say this is a movie for entertainment and not a documentary and thank god I didn't get dished something like Nights at Rodanthe which I was served the last time I watched Gere with a mature woman. Hilary Swank is beyond criticism in this role, she clearly researched her character and acted with great integrity and pride. Amelia Earheart clearly flew at a time of aviation transformation and full credit to her for what she did in her life, whether she was foolhardy or not, she died doing something she loved. Sometimes we can know too much and it spoils our instinctive enjoyment of something; don't let that happen with this film. I am not a fan of Swank or Gere but to be honest, they delivered the goods here against the odds.

A tasteful, excellent film... way more than what some reviewers have said, well written, well acted,and thoroughly enjoyable. I'd recommend it for young women as a history lesson and story about what women have done in American history. And, I recommend it to all the women who have fought so hard for women's rights, and all the men who truly love women. Will someone please do movies on many of the other wonderful women of our history? And, follow the example of this film, please. Congratulations to everyone involved! I almost didn't go because of some of the silly reviews from people saying it was long, or the end was bad, or it was like a Discovery Ch. travel picture. Do these sad souls need a lot of cranky language and boring crashes just to feel like they've seen a movie, too many video games? This was beautiful and thoughtful... Thank you!

I saw this movie at an advance screening in Toronto, and it was definitely worth it. The audience had mixed reactions, but the Academy will most likely the movie. Everyone is probably familiar with the story of Amelia Earhart, but if you are not, just go an see the movie - Nair has directed it well. You will not be bored in the movie; however, you must like the 'Academy-type' films. It's a drama and a biography so know that going into the cinema. Hilary's performance was mind blowing. She got into the character exceptionally well, and she is definitely an actor of high calibre. I felt that Richard was a miscast. The time frame of the movie was supposed to be set in the 1920s/1930s but it felt like it just happened yesterday. As a viewer, you are looking to be taken back into the time but that's where Nair scored low for me. Overall, it's definitely worth seeing and depending on the rest of the films of 2009, it may or may not get selected for an Oscar nomination. It's hard to tell with this one.

I saw it and saw the audience reaction. Unlikely to win any awards. Ernest effort but actually miscast and misdirected. It was entirely a modern sensibility rather than the 1930s. People didn't talk that way and I doubt that they interacted that way then or now. Dialogue was weakest part. Planes and flying shots were great and the clothes were terrific. Hillary is now way too thin. Amelia actually was prettier and far more animated, even in still photography. In fact, Richard Gere is somewhat prettier but his hair kept changing the degree of greyness and often in the wrong direction and sequence. Continuity anyone? That said, an interesting failure and the clothes, well her clothes were to die for, literally. I think that sometimes one has to try and they certainly did try but the effort showed a bit too much.

I saw the movie today and give it two thumbs up! I don't expect any academy awards from it but it was a very good drama. I don't understand that rotten tomatoes low number but if I had to give up a number, I would give it 90%. Others who gave low rating and bad comments about this movie are people who simply don't appreciate or have no clear understanding of the story. I believe everyone should do some research on your beloved Amelia before entering the theaters. Some can even comment on it when they never even watch it! Get a life! If you think you are that good, why don't you do the acting yourself and be someone else!

Some people shouldn't see some movies. This is a period piece and a character study -- both very well done. Some younger viewers may be looking for more action and maybe a happy ending. Maybe a car chase or two. Works well as a love story between complex characters and as a depiction of Amelia and her time. Tarentino can change history for fun and profit, but these folks did their best to try depicting truth. Gere and Swank exhibit high level acting skills here and the story moves well from scene to scene. Not the kind of movie that is going to be popular with the average viewers and not a big money-maker, but a fine film nonetheless.