From Unforgiven (1992) onward, Clint Eastwood’s directorial efforts have often questioned the righteousness of a lone-wolf authority figure. That’s why J Edgar Hoover makes such a promising subject. Over the course of 48 years as bureau chief, the founding FBI director amassed unprecedented power and secrets so sensational he could allegedly blackmail presidents.

Shot in bland pseudo-monochrome, the film grips whenever it zeroes in on Hoover’s paranoia. But while romance gives J. Edgar a sensitive core, the time-hopping script trots out highlights without any historical scope, and the quality of DiCaprio’s performance seems to vary depending on the time period.