A career best performance from DiCaprio

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2005)

The one thing to say about this film above all else that DiCaprio's performance is quite simply sensational. He displays new hidden depths that we had not seen before from this undoubtedly talented actor. One has to say that it was a brave move by Scorsese casting him in this film after he was totally and utterly miscast in Gangs and completely overshadowed by Day Lewis. In The Aviator the opposite was true as I can hardly think of an actor who could have pulled this role off so well. The performances generally are very very strong, with the talented Cate Blanchett worthy of mention. Jude Law as Errol Flynn was also very entertaining and right on the money.
As to the film itself the sheer degree of work and thought that had clearly gone into this production was extraordinary. Time and again Scorsese seems to pull it off with one of the most versatile catalogues of work behind him of all directors. As always the camera-work was spot on from one of the best in the business at this element of a film, as was the choice soundtrack which is certainly another one of Scorsese's directorial fortes. This film must surely be in the running for at several Oscar nominations.
If one had to be critical it was a rather long movie perhaps too long, but this should not detract from its status as an instant classic.
10/10