Top 10 Leonardo DiCaprio Movies
DiCaprio’s Best Acting Roles from Romeo and Juliet to The Aviator
Although he is considered one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio proves he is an actor with talent. Nominated for three Academy Awards, for Best Supporting Actor for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and Best Actor twice, The Aviator (2004) and Blood Diamond (2006), DiCaprio shows he is a serious actor.
While DiCaprio has appeared in films since the early 1990s, he is best known for the blockbuster Titanic (1997) and more recently for his collaborations with director Martin Scorsese. The following are 10 of DiCaprio’s best acting roles.
10. Romeo + Juliet (1996) Directed by Baz Luhrmann
This 1996 contemporary version of the Shakespeare classic is directed by Baz Luhrmann and co-stars Claire Danes. Luhrmann’s adaptation is strikingly different from other film versions of this tragedy, and DiCaprio’s Romeo is just as unforgettable. In this film, DiCaprio shows his ability to play the leading man, even at a young age.
9. The Basketball Diaries (1995) Directed by Scott Kalvert
DiCaprio plays Jim Carroll, a young man who has a quick descent into drug addiction. The film is directed by Scott Kalvert and co-stars Lorraine Bracco. This is a demanding role, showing the lows a person can reach through drug addiction. James Berardinelli, in a review of The Basketball Diaries says of DiCaprio’s performance, “Because it demands so much range, the role of Jimmy Carroll requires more effort, but DiCaprio doesn't miss a beat.”
8. Catch Me If You Can (2002) Directed by Stephen Spielberg
In Catch Me If You Can, DiCaprio plays Frank Abignale, Jr, a smooth-talking, quick-witted young con man. This role may seem made for DiCaprio, whose good looks and natural charisma certainly recommend him to this part. Nevertheless, the film co-stars Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, and Martin Sheen, and DiCaprio holds his own in a solid performance.
7. Titanic (1997) Directed by James Cameron
In James Cameron’s epic Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jack Dawson, a character that most moviegoers are familiar with. While some argue that the character is a stereotype and doesn’t provide DiCaprio with much to work with, he did something with the character that resonated with people. He made him energetic, lovable, and a memorable leading man.
6. Blood Diamond (2006) Directed by Edward Zwick
Though the film may not have been a major box-office hit, DiCaprio received his third Oscar nomination for his performance as a man involved with conflict diamonds in Sierra Leone. DiCaprio lost at the Oscars, to Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland, but critics and audiences were impressed with this performance.
5. The Departed (2006) Directed by Martin Scorsese
Winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Departed received a lot of attention. While DiCaprio didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for his acting, he delivers a powerful performance in this movie. In Todd McCarthy’s review of the film for Variety, he says “DiCaprio is outstanding […]. In his third collaboration with Scorsese, DiCaprio has rarely been this vital, energized or passionate.”
4. Revolutionary Road (2008) Directed by Sam Mendes
DiCaprio stars opposite Kate Winslet for the second time in Revolutionary Road, the film adaptation of Richard Yates’s 1961 novel. As Frank Wheeler, a man who realizes that he hasn’t lived up to the potential he once believed he possessed, DiCaprio mixes charisma with defeat and anger, making the character real and believable.
3. Gangs of New York (2002) Directed by Martin Scorsese
Gangs of New York is DiCaprio’s first of many starring roles under the direction of Martin Scorsese. Scorsese is known for pushing actors to do their best work, and he got a great performance out of DiCaprio in this film. DiCaprio keeps up with the genius that is Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher, which is saying a lot.
2. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) Directed by Lasse Hallström
Although he was only 19-years-old when the film was released, DiCaprio proved that he was ready to take on challenging characters. DiCaprio earned an Oscar nomination for his role as Arnie Grape, taking on a difficult role and pulling it off. The film also stars Johnny Depp and Juliette Lewis.
1. The Aviator (2004) Directed by Martin Scorsese
The role of the eccentric Howard Hughes is a complex one, involving the need to jump from one extreme emotion to another, while also ranging from suave ladies’ man to a man having a complete mental breakdown. DiCarpio’s performance was highly praised, earning him his second Oscar nomination and providing audiences with even more evidence that he is the real deal as an actor.
DiCaprio has starred in several other films including The Beach, directed by Danny Boyle, the Academy Award winning director of Slumdog Millionaire. DiCaprio’s fourth collaboration with Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island, is due out this October.
The Departed DVD Cover
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Gangs of New York DVD Cover
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Catch Me If You Can DVD Cover
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