Stellar performance from DiCaprio

As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover (Leonardo DiCaprio) 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.

Hoover was appointed head of what was then the plain Bureau of Investigation within America’s Justice Department in 1924, while he was still in his 20s; in 1934, he refounded it as the FBI and remained its head until he died in 1972, serving six Presidents from Roosevelt to Nixon.

On the one hand, Hoover created a powerful crime-fighting agency that used modern scientific methods such as fingerprinting.

On the other, he persecuted radicals using dirty tricks and blackmailed people in public life, apparently making it impossible for Presidents Truman and Kennedy to sack him, as they wanted.

Only a heart attack brought his dictatorial rule to an end, at the age of 77. Subsequent FBI directors have been limited to one 10-year term, unless extended by the Senate.

The film follows a similar approach to the Margaret Thatcher biopic The Iron Lady, in that J. Edgar is looking back while compiling the history of the FBI, or rather his history of the FBI.

As Hoover recalls his life, we slip back in time alongside his memories.

Eastwood seems to want to show Hoover as a dedicated lawman playing an epic role in American history, whatever his flaws - many of which, such as his dirty-tricks programme, are skipped over here.

And, while major events such as the Lindbergh kidnapping, are the focus of J. Edgar’s reminiscing, it is instead the relationship between him, his devoted secretary Helen Gandy (played by Naomi Watts), and his Associate FBI Director Clive Tolson which becomes of more interest to viewers.

Though Hoover persecuted homosexuals, he appears to have been predominantly gay himself, enjoying a long and close relationship with Tolson, which is hinted at in the film.

Armie Hammer is terrific as Clyde Tolson and you feel sympathetic for his seemingly unrequited love for Hoover.

All in all, a pleasing and intelligent film, though a touch on the long side.