5.8
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
J. Edgar (2011)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 5.8
Overview
As the face of law enforcement in the United States for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career, and his life.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Bias Dimensions
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Positive
Christianity: Negative
Overview
As the face of law enforcement in the United States for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career, and his life.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Primary
The film critically examines J. Edgar Hoover's abuse of power, his establishment of a surveillance state, and the personal tragedy of his repressed life, aligning its dominant themes with left-leaning concerns about civil liberties and the dangers of unchecked authority.
The movie features traditional casting, accurately reflecting the historical figures it portrays without any explicit race or gender swaps. Its narrative focuses on the complex character of J. Edgar Hoover and his personal struggles, rather than offering a broad critique of traditional identities or centering on explicit DEI themes.
Secondary
J. Edgar portrays the complex, lifelong, and deeply closeted relationship between J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson. The film depicts the profound personal cost of societal homophobia and Hoover's internal repression, framing these as external obstacles rather than inherent flaws of queer identity. Despite its tragic arc, the narrative treats their enduring love with dignity and empathy, affirming the worth of their hidden bond.
The film portrays a conservative, moralistic strain of Christianity, primarily through Hoover's mother's influence and societal norms, as a source of repression and hypocrisy. It depicts this influence as contributing to Hoover's personal torment and rigid worldview, without offering significant counterbalancing positive aspects.
The film "J. Edgar" does not feature identifiable transsexual characters or themes. While a scene depicts J. Edgar Hoover privately cross-dressing, this act is presented as a manifestation of his complex psychological state and repressed desires, rather than an exploration of transsexual identity or gender transition.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The film is a biopic of J. Edgar Hoover and other historical figures. All major characters are portrayed with the same gender as their real-world historical counterparts, with no instances of a gender swap.
J. Edgar is a biopic depicting real historical figures, primarily J. Edgar Hoover and his associates. All major characters, who were historically white, are portrayed by white actors in the film. There are no instances of a character's race being changed from their historical or canonical depiction.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.5
6.2
Critic Ratings
4.4
5.9
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