The Oregon Faith Report - Faith News from Oregon

October 24, 2009

Faith-Family Film Review: Amelia PG
Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting

Hilary Swank portrays aviatrix Amelia Earhart in a handsome, mellifluous biography suitable for viewing by multiple generations yet which nevertheless fails to soar as an adventure or romance. No one could expect director Mira Nair, using two literary biographies as source material, to offer the definitive take on Earhart’s personality, let alone solve the mystery of her disappearance over the Pacific in 1937, but the vague insights into her character and relationships, both with husband George Putnam (Richard Gere) and intimate friend Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor), though ultimately affirming the bonds of marriage, prove frustrating, particularly coupled with the film’s lack of sustenance for aviation buffs. Discreetly handled adulterous and premarital sexual situations, one instance of crass language, and one use of profanity.  A-II — adults and adolescents. (PG) 2009. Full Review