Great Tribute to An American Oddball

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2013)

I was thirteen when Titanic came out, so I will always have a soft spot for Leo. I admire him because he's a guy who could have coasted on his looks alone, but he always chooses his roles carefully. He's one of those actors whose films you can depend on to at least be interesting in some way. As Howard Hughes, you watch a man who has everything (looks, money, intelligence, creativity) but will lose it all to mental illness. I love how clear it is that Howard knows he is not normal, but is powerless to control himself. I can't think of another movie or television show that portrays OCD with as much respect.
While Leonardo DiCaprio is terrific as Howard, the person who really shines in this film is Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn, who won an Oscar for her performance. The film portrays Hepburn as the only woman who could bring out the tender side of Howard and the only person who could get him to relax enough to have some fun. Cate does a great job of channeling this icon, to the point where I think of this performance whenever I watch one of the real Hepburn's films.
http://amandalovesmovies.com/2012/03/12/the-aviator