Leonardo DiCaprio is an undeniably talented actor, and over the last two decades he has proven himself time and again. He’s had incredible success over his career, going from a talented youngster to a teen heartthrob to the highly respected actor he is today. Leo’s slated to star in Clint Eastwood’s upcoming film J. Edgar and an adaptation of The Great Gatsby in the next few months, so let’s take a look back at his career and the movies that made him a star.
10. Blood Diamond
Leo earned an Oscar nod for his role in Edward Zwick’s 2006 movie, playing a morally dubious diamond smuggler. While his character Danny Archer is extremely hardcore, his tough exterior hides a wounded soul. Even though it’s an action-packed movie, the ending is a real tear-jerker.
9. Revolutionary Road
Acting once again with his Titanic co-star Kate Winslet, DiCaprio showcased how much he’d grown as an actor in this 2008 film. The movie focuses on the troubled marriage between Frank and April Wheeler, and how the couple strains against the restrictions of the stifling society of the 50s. The fact that Winslet’s then-husband, Sam Mendes, shot the movie makes it more interesting: must have been awkward to film that sex scene.
8. The Aviator
In this 2004 film, DiCaprio played Howard Hughes, the titular aviator and Hollywood figure, in his prime. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film shows Hughes’ heyday and the start of his fall into OCD that would make him unable to leave his room for years on end. Leo let his own OCD tendencies go unchecked while filming, sometimes exasperating the film when he had to walk through a door a certain way multiple times. However, his accurate portrayal of a man fighting his obsessions earned Leo his second Oscar nomination.
7. Romeo + Juliet
Although Titanic confirmed Leo’s heartthrob status in the 90s, Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic put him on the map. DiCaprio brought a new swagger to the role of Romeo, and with Clare Danes brought the Bard to a whole new generation. Although some of Luhrmann’s stylistic choices may seem dated now, DiCaprio and Danes’ performances still stand out.
6. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
DiCaprio showed immense talent in his portrayal of a handicapped teen in this 1993 flick. Leo gave a heartfelt performance as Arnie Grape, the younger brother of Johnny Depp’s Gilbert. The movie’s center lies in the brothers’ relationship, and it is touching. Leonardo received his first Oscar nomination for this movie.
5. Shutter Island
This 2010 movie marks the fourth collaboration of DiCaprio and Scorsese, and proves once again that the pairing is a good idea. Shutter Island is a terrifying psychological thriller. Much like Inception, it tells the story of a man trying to come to turns with his dead wife, losing his certainty about what is real along the way. This movie had the highest opening-weekend box office sales of Scorsese’s career.
4. Catch Me If You Can
In this film Leonardo plays real-life former conman Frank Abagnale, a teen runaway who committed massive fraud and posed as a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer as he ran from the law. Steven Spielberg’s direction and great performances by costars Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken add to this fascinating 2002 film. This is one of DiCaprio’s most celebrated performances, and a musical version of the movie recently debuted on Broadway.
3. Titanic
Say what you want about this sentimental flick – it was a monster hit for a reason. James Cameron’s 1997 film, which was the highest-selling movie in the world until the release of Avatar, struck a chord with the public when it was released. Especially memorable is the doomed romance between Leo’s character Jack and Kate Winslet’s Rose. That scene with him holding her at the head of the ship is as iconic as the movie’s theme song, “My Heart Will Go On”. It may seem cheesy now, but you know when you saw it you cried.
2. The Departed
Martin Scorsese’s 2006 film about the Irish mob in Boston earned widespread critical acclaim for a reason. The Departed, an adaptation of the Chinese thriller Infernal Affairs, boasts a great story and talented cast, headed by DiCaprio. Leonardo plays Billy Costigan, a cop planted in the criminal ring of Frank Costello (played stunningly by Jack Nicholson). The dual roles of DiCaprio’s Costigan and Matt Damon’s character Colonel Sullivan, a rat posing as a cop, contrast and play off each other. Leo perfectly showed Costigan’s uncertainty and isolation, bringing the human element to the mob movie.
1. Inception
Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending psychological thriller was Leo’s first foray into summer blockbuster territory, and by all accounts was a huge success. It’s been almost a year since Inception was released, and people are still debating the ending. DiCaprio plays Dom Cobb, an “extractor” whose job is to steal information from people’s dreams. While the very talented cast is more of an ensemble, Leo’s portrayal of Cobb’s anguish provides the emotional core of the movie. If the audience didn’t care deeply about what happened to Cobb, then the ending wouldn’t be so hotly disputed.
Sources:
All facts and figures from IMDB.com.
