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"Amelia" is a perfectly adequate biopic, although I
was hoping for more. Part of the problem is that it adheres
to the conventions of the average historical drama, with
moments of sweeping music, visually stunning landscapes,
and voiceover narrations so perfectly placed that you can't
help but feel a little manipulated. ***
They're all provided by the title character, aviation
pioneer Amelia Earheart (Hilary Swank), who disappeared
in July of 1937 over the Pacific as she attempted to circumnavigate
the globe; her words give us no more or less than poetic
musings about the freedom of flying, the beauty of the sky,
and the joy of living a dream. These bits of dialogue are
not badly written, but honestly, is there nothing left to
say that's original? For a film about a fascinating woman
who lived a very fascinating life, I was surprised at just
how generic it all seemed. ***
But let's not sell this movie short. Swank is perfectly
cast, not only because her physical appearance is stunningly
similar to Earhart's, but also because she gives yet another
wonderful performance. We see a brave, determined, and sometimes
stubborn woman who wanted to pave the way for other female
pilots. Granted, we pretty much already knew this; numerous
written accounts, some written by Earhart, cemented our
perceptions of her a long time ago. ***
Still, it's always a pleasure to see an actor taking
someone else's qualities, mimicking them, and making the
audience believe them. Swank has that kind of power, as
she already demonstrated in films like "Boys Don't Cry"
and "Million Dollar Baby." We see her as Earhart and invest
in every smile, every laugh, and every line of dialogue.
***
The plot continuously shifts back and forth between
her final flight and the events leading up to it, starting
in 1928 with the introduction of George P. Putnam (Richard
Gere). Putnam, a book publicist, was key in coordinating
Earhart's flight across the Atlantic, which came at the
heels of a similar flight taken by Charles Lindbergh a year
earlier. While she was essentially a passenger, leaving
the piloting to Wilmer Stultz (Joe Anderson) and Louis Gordon
(Aaron Abrams), the flight was nonetheless an historic event,
and even led to a ticker tape parade upon their return to
New York City. ***
In fact, it wasn't until 1932 that Earhart finally
flew solo across the Atlantic, starting in Harbour Grace,
Newfoundland and ending in Culmore, Northern Ireland. By
then, she was actively involved in competitive flying, and
we're shown the Santa-Monica-to-Cleveland Women's Air Derby
of 1929, which involved a young, eager aviatrix named Elinor
Smith (Mia Wasikowska). ***
Earhart was also already a celebrity at that point,
gaining fame through a series of lecturing tours and product
endorsements. She promoted everything from luggage to women's
sportswear to chewing gum to Lucky Strike cigarettes, which
was odd since she was a nonsmoker. While not exactly thrilled
with the idea of being an advertising mascot, the money
she earned did help finance future flying excursions. ***
In the midst of her professional career, she found
herself romantically torn between Putnam and Gene Vidal
(Ewan McGregor), the pioneer of the commercial aviation
industry (he was also the father of Gore Vidal, seen as
a child and much adored by Earhart). He's indeed dashing
and a charmer, unlike Putnam, who seems awfully stiff and
businesslike. He and Earhart, however, have already gotten
married. ***
Granted, he was much more willing to be married than
she was; historically, it's said that Putnam had to propose
six times before Earhart finally agreed to marry him in
1931. Even then, her views remained liberal; in a written
statement addressed to him, she said, "I want you to understand
I shall not hold you to any medieval code of faithfulness
to me, nor shall I consider myself bound to you similarly."
***
Her 1937 world flight with aviator Fred Noonan (Christopher
Eccleston) and their eventual disappearance are handled
appropriately. The final communications between Earhart
and the crew of the USGC ship "Itasca" are effectively tense,
made better by the fact that the dialogue is virtually identical
to the actual radio transmissions. What exactly did become
of her and Noonan? ***
Two prevailing theories are equally plausible: Either
Earhart's Electra ran out of fuel and sank after crashing
into the South Pacific, or they landed on Gardner Island
(now called Nikumaroro) and eventually died of dehydration/starvation.
There is evidence to support the second theory, including
the discovery of a skeleton and a sextant box during a 1940
colonial expedition. It's circumstantial at best, but it's
engrossing just the same. ***
If only the rest of the film were as effective. Much
of "Amelia" is greatly romanticized, pretty much to the
point where it seems condescending. Do we really need to
hear lyrical odes to the sky, the ocean, and the adventure
that is life? You expect this kind of treatment in melodramas
like "Gone with the Wind," which naturally give license
to epic production values and grandiose performances. Here,
it feels like padding, a way to avoid delving deeper into
character. ***
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