At some point or another, almost everyone has marveled over the journey and mystery of Amelia Earheart. Directed by Mira Nair, Amelia is a blockbuster effort to encapsulate the larger-than-life story of a woman who wanted nothing more than to escape to the skies.
Academy favorite Hilary Swank, stars as the aviatrix herself, with Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor tagging along as Earhart’s competing love interests. Amelia will undoubtedly gain attention for its star-studded cast, and they all turn in brilliant performances. Swank, especially, shines in a role that might just land her another Best Actress nomination, and if anything in Amelia succeeds, it’s the gripping acting.
Despite Swank’s best efforts, however, some things about Amelia fail to take off. The story revolves around a woman who had her head in the sky, both literally and figuratively, but Amelia completely fails to delve into the person behind her public persona. The film remains disappointingly shallow, completely disregarding certain aspects of the story. How important were Earheart’s efforts to women at the time? What was the cause behind Amelia’s sudden romances? And why, for god’s sake, did Amelia begin flying in the first place? As a viewer, one simply doesn’t know the answer to any of these questions. Ultimately, viewers aren’t watching for a synopsis of Earheart’s whirlwind life; they’re watching for something deeper, something that Amelia never delivers.
While the film may be high in drama, it’s ultimately low on substance. Instead of taking off, it stays safely grounded, refusing to take any risks. The result is a disappointing biopic that remains merely elementary. For a woman that captured the imaginations of so many people, Amelia Earheart deserved so much better.
2.5 stars
Directed by: Mira Nair
Starring: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor
Rated: PG-13, 111 min.
