Rules Don't Apply (2016)

In 1959 Hollywood, an aspiring actress (Lily Collins, MIRROR MIRROR) is put under a personal contract by the elusive Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty) although he never puts her in a movie. But a romance develops between her and one of Hughes' drivers (Alden Ehrenreich, HAIL CAESAR). In addition to starring as Hughes, Beatty also directed, produced and wrote the film which is his first movie in 15 years. I was very disappointed. It isn't bad mind you, not at all, just a disappointment. There are really two films going on here. One is the romance between the actress and the driver and the other is about Howard Hughes and although the stories are intertwined, they never quite mesh. If Beatty had focused on just one of the stories, it might have made for a stronger film. Collins and Ehrenreich are enormously appealing which helps. The film is also sloppy with the facts as Hughes marries Jean Peters in the movie in 1959 when in actuality, they married in 1957. The supporting cast is crammed with notable actors in mostly small parts with only Matthew Broderick (my favorite performance in the film) standing out from the pack. With Annette Bening, Alec Baldwin, Candice Bergen, Martin Sheen, Ed Harris, Oliver Platt, Steve Coogan and Amy Madigan who has all of 5 seconds of screen time!