SYNOPSIS: After becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia was thrust into a new role as America's sweetheart - the legendary "goddess of light," known for her bold, larger-than-life charisma. Yet, even with her global fame solidified, her belief in flirting with danger and standing up as her own, outspoken woman never changed. She was an inspiration to people everywhere, from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Cherry Jones) to the men closest to her heart: her husband, promoter and publishing magnate George P. Putnam (Golden Globe® winner Richard Gere), and her long time friend and lover, pilot Gene Vidal (Ewan McGregor). In the summer of 1937, Amelia set off on her most daunting mission yet: a solo flight around the world that she and George both anxiously foresaw as destined, whatever the outcome, to become one of the most talked-about journeys in history.

REVIEW: The prelude to the screening of this film was very interesting. A woman got up in front of the audience and said a few words. She was representing The Ninety Nines, Inc. This organization of women pilots was established in 1929 by 99 of them to provide mutual support and advancement of aviation. There were approximately 10 to 15 female pilots present in the theater who stood up and were applauded. Another special treat was the presence of an elderly lady whose husband helped fuel the plane for one of Amelia Earhart’s famous flights. It was almost like touching history. Her final announcement was that Hilary Swank, who plays Amelia, had decided to pursue obtaining a pilot’s license as a result of her involvement in this picture. So you see there is a lot more to this than just the story of Amelia Earhart. But then again, she is the focal point. Oh and by the way, she was the first president of the Ninety Nines.

Amelia was a pioneer, a true American hero, and a world-wide celebrity. But more than that, she was a brave and determined woman with an incredible spirit whose home was in the sky. It is where she felt the most comfortable and where she felt free. Freedom and flight were Amelia’s top priorities. Hilary Swank does a fabulous job of bringing Amelia to life on the big screen. She really nailed the role. It is by far the most enjoyable aspect of this movie. She really looked the part in every way: the wardrobe, the hairdo, the eye brows, the freckles, her speech and accent, and of course, that incredible smile. Hilary also brought her attitude and demeanor, her passion and determination, and most importantly, her love for flying. Hilary personified Amelia almost perfectly. I’m not saying that she is for sure going to be nominated for an Oscar for this role, but I will definitely not be surprised if she does. Both Richard Gere as George Putnam and Ewan McGregor as Gene Vidal gave decent performances but nothing to write home about. And that’s pretty much it for the main characters. But these three do entertain us with the little love triangle they got going on with Amelia stuck in the middle.

This movie was okay but not great. It was very historical (although I can’t confirm its accuracy) but entertaining, not so much. It did seem to have some actual footage of Amelia’s appearances which was pretty good. Once again, its Hilary’s performance that makes the movie worthwhile. The next best aspect is probably the breathtaking cinematography. Of course as you can imagine when the subject is flight all over the world, you would have to conclude that the cinematography is going to be beautiful and it is. Accomplished Director Mira Nair, born in India, has done a good job with this film and she fulfilled her goal of bringing a synopsis of the life of Amelia Earhart to the big screen. It just seems like something is missing though. I don’t think your average moviegoer is going to like this movie. They might be bored by it; unless you enjoy history, famous women in history, aviation, or are a fan of Amelia Earhart. Then you should consider it.