Amelia

Most people know of Amelia Earhart due to the great mystery of her disappearance; since no remains were ever found, it's as if she vanished into thin air. Her story is actually a lot more interesting than the mystery of her death, as this film ably demonstrates. Hilary Swank is Amelia, and she's more than just an "awe shucks" American hero. She was actually quite the liberated lady, and, a believer in open marriage, to the consternation of promoter, publisher, and husband George Putnam. Putnam, as played by Richard Gere makes her a national hero by arranging for her to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane. The fact that she was merely a passenger and did no flying didn't prevent her from becoming a national hero, and to be referred to as "Lady Lindy." She quickly made the leap to pilot, and in 1932 did fly solo across the Atlantic, becoming even more of a legend in the process. As the film demonstrates, Amelia would be very much at home in today's celebrity driven society. She doesn't hesitate to use her fame to endorse a variety of products, and obviously had no shame in "cashing in." Amelia does a fine job in adding substance to the story of this American hero, and Ms. Swank and Mr. Gere are quite believable in their roles. The film is quite entertaining, and at times even soars: see it, but not in flight of course.

Rating - 3 Stars