The amazing life of Howard Hughes brilliantly portrayed by Scorsese & DiCaprio

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2005)

I saw this movie last night and I can't stop thinking about it. The more I think about "The Aviator," the more I realize what a brilliant movie this is because it succeeds so well at depicting the life of a man, Howard Hughes, who was highly complex -- full of conflicts and contradictions, a "super human" and a human just like the rest of us.
I didn't know much about Howard Hughes before seeing this film but almost immediately I found myself truly liking him, hoping he would succeed at whatever he tried and deeply sympathetic when he encountered setbacks. In a way, Howard Hughes was very different from me but there were enough common threads to allow me to truly relate to him.
Leonardo DiCaprio once again delivers a remarkable performance. He captures the essence of Hughes and is highly successful at bringing Hughes to life on the big screen (an extraordinary accomplishment).
This film is also an affirmation that Martin Scorsese, the film's director, is one of the best directors of all time. I think the team of DiCaprio and Scorsese is perfect. They also worked together on the "Gangs of New York" (2002), which like "The Aviator" (2004), reminded me of what great film making is all about.
"The Aviator" also features terrific performances by Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda and others. Everyone involved in this project shines brightly!