Well, that changes everything.
NewMexiKen saw The Aviator this evening and must admit that Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of Howard Hughes was first rate. More was demanded in this role than in Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of Ray Charles, superb as that was. Not every note was perfect, but overall I’d say DiCaprio played a more complex piece.
Overall, The Aviator was excellent; much more the “major motion picture” than Million Dollar Baby or Ray, great as both are. Cate Blanchett deserved her Oscar nomination for playing Katharine Hepburn and Alan Alda his for the venal Senator Brewster, though in a relatively minor role (contrast with Jamie Foxx in Collateral).
Still need to see Sideways, Finding Neverland and Hotel Rwanda by Sunday evening.
The first film I ever saw Leo DiCaprio perform in was “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” At the time I was unfamiliar with him, and his role as Johnny Depp’s younger retarded brother was so convincing that I wondered if they had actually used a mildly retarded actor. He’s made a few crappy movies, but his talent has always been there. He just needed better parts to demonstrate it. (“This Boy’s Life” with Robert DeNiro and Ellen Barkin wasn’t too bad, either.)
I agree with you about The Aviator and Leo DC. FA and I finally saw Finding Neverland last weekend. Hope you get to see it before Sunday. I sure liked it. Wish someone had told me to bring Kleenex.