DiCaprio and Blanchett make this work!!

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2011)

I was pleasantly surprised by it. Didn't know what to expect. I was quite impressed with a few of the biopics I've seen - WALK THE LINE, RAY, MIRACLE (that one is more about the Miracle on Ice win but also focuses greatly on the coach Herb Brooks) so I decided to give THE AVIATOR a whirl (ahem). DiCaprio in recent years has proved himself to be quite the actor so I really wanted to see his take on Howard Hughes. Let me tell ya - DiCaprio hit this one out of the park!! By far his best performance!! The mannerisms and all the foibles/compulsive disorders that he brought out in his performance were outstanding!!
I immediately went and read up as much as I could about Hughes and his life. I was already a bit fascinated with this man even before seeing the film - although I must admit that my fascination stemmed more from his latter years as a recluse and the fact that Jimmy Dean's Willard Whyte character in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER was based on him. But I had no idea he played such a huge part in aviation and in the film business earlier in his life. That part of his life I knew almost nothing about. And it was DiCaprio's performance that fed my interest in the man even more. Bravo, Leo!!
And then there's Cate Blanchett as Kate Hepburn - a maaaarvelous performance!! I was like... DAYUM!!! She IS Hepburn!! Leo and Cate basically made this movie for me. Up until then my favorite lead performances of 2004 were Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles and Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks. Both did a splendid job. But sorry... Leo beats them both!!