- That childlike fascination was what interested me most about the film Amelia, which profiles legendary female pilot Amelia Earhart. Set in the 1930s, it chronicles her journey as the first woman pilot to fly across the Atlantic and details her tragic disappearance attempting to fly around the world (sorry, I just spoiled the ending).
Even though we live in a society where air travel is common, we sometimes still have to stop and marvel at the miracle of us earth-bound humans inhabiting the skies. How does a plane gather enough speed to propel not only myself but 300 others into the air on a controlled path to another destination? Earhart is portrayed by Oscar-winner Hilary Swank, who really digs into her role, assuming new vocal mannerisms and swagger. Like Meryl Streep in Julie and Julia, Swank is captivating in nearly every scene she’s in, which is a plus with a movie centering on her character. Conversely, Richard Gere phones his performance in as George Putnam, her mentor and husband. Ewan McGregor also briefly appears as Gene Vidal, “the other man” in Earhart and Putnam’s relationship.
While Amelia isn’t a bad movie, it never truly soars. It’s not the epic adventure that the legendary Earhart name and the trailers might otherwise suggest. Instead, we get scattered glimpses of her personal life, including liberal views on marriage and fidelity, and a few key historical events. To her credit, Swank ably channels Amelia’s resistance to being constrained. Perhaps she too felt confined in a production that seems to be stuck on autopilot.
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