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Zero time Tony Award winner • Production Assistant • Serial rewatcher
If you’re still getting to know me, there’s a small fact you might not be aware of. I am a Leonardo DiCaprio super-fan! The first time I saw a DiCaprio flick was when I was six years old. It was Titanic, in case you were curious. I used to sleep over at my aunt’s house as a kid. Her collection of movies was rather slim, and I didn’t have a big kid-friendly variety to choose from. Being the history buff that I am, I gravitated towards history’s most famous sunken ship.
If there ever comes a time when you doubt me, please remember that in high school I wrote an entire poem about him. We could choose any single subject in the universe to write on. I chose a middle-aged actor. I digress, you’re not here to read about that. You came to see which of his films I rank as my top ten. This is no easy decision and it’s one I take very seriously.
10. Marvin’s Room
This isn’t technically a movie where Leonardo DiCaprio plays the lead, but he does play the son of the lead. This is the type of story that tugs on your heartstrings a lot. DiCaprio plays a rebellious teen who goes with his mother (Meryl Streep) and brother to visit his estranged family. Lee’s (Streep) father is dying, and her sister (Diane Keaton) is diagnosed with Leukemia. All of these events make for one wild family reunion.
9. Shutter Island
Michelle Williams, a mystery/thriller, and big plot twists all make me happy. I thrive on these kinds of movies. They get my brain going, and they shock me in the end. If you’ve never seen it, it’s about a U.S. Marshal who comes to a hospital for the criminally insane. He is there to investigate a murderer who has disappeared.
8. The Wolf of Wall Street
I was a senior in high school when this came out and I had turned 17 five months prior. I was so grateful that I didn’t need my parents to get me in. I ended up going with my cousins and all I can say is thank the maker! I love movies based on the lives of real people and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s based on the true story of Jordan Belfort. He was a stockbroker who eventually went down a path of crime and corruption.
7. The Aviator
A movie after my own heart. The Aviator is a biopic about the film director and aviator Howard Hughes. It spans from the 1920s to the 1940s. Hughes was a multifaceted man who battled a lot of demons. I love the complication of the story and seeing everything he achieves.
6. The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby was assigned to me during my junior year of high school. It was only a few months before this movie version was released. I do like it better than the original version. A lot of people complained that it was too modern. I loved the updated twist, especially in the 1920s music. Bonus points that it’s another Baz Luhrman movie!
5. The Man in The Iron Mask
Imagine if King Louis XIV had a twin brother. Now imagine that he kept that twin brother in prison because he wanted all of the fame and glory for himself. I’ll be saying this a lot, but I’m a sucker for movies based on real-life people or events with a fictional twist. We all know King Louis XIV didn’t have a twin, but it makes for an entertaining movie. Plus, the Three Musketeers are in it. They must free the imprisoned twin and swap him for Louis.
4. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
I know this movie wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it contained a lot of my favorite elements. I was so glad to see DiCaprio return to the big screen. My heart aches for old Hollywood, and although this movie takes place on the latter end of that, I still saw traces of it. Let me clarify, my heart aches for the aesthetic of old Hollywood. I do not wish to return to the way people were treated on and off movie sets. The Charles Manson tie-in was a big twist. Even though a lot was going on in the story, the fictional story mixing with history was rather cool.
3. Romeo + Juliet
Another Baz Luhrman classic! Once again, it’s an old story with modern twists. The appeal of Shakespeare’s dialogue is all there, but the characters are thrust into a 1990s suburb. It’s still my favorite Romeo and Juliet adaptation that I’ve ever seen. No matter what they both still die in the end and that’s why I can’t rank it higher than number 3.
2. Titanic
It will forever be known as my gateway movie into the DCU (DiCaprio Cinematic Universe). What are the bonus points for this movie, you might ask? Even though the story is totally fabricated, the history is factual. No one knows everything about every passenger. I’d like to think that there were a pair of star-crossed lovers aboard the Titanic. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they both survived, though. He could have fit on the door, or they could have taken turns.
1. Catch Me if You Can
People are surprised to hear this is my favorite DiCaprio movie given my history with Titanic. I just can’t say no when I’m given a mix of young DiCaprio, the 1960s, and a real-life story all directed by Steven Spielberg. DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale Jr., who is the master of all forgers. He has faked his way as a doctor, lawyer, and airline pilot all before he turns 21. Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), an FBI agent, becomes obsessed with hunting him down and a fabulous game of cat and mouse ensues.
Being that today is Leonardo DiCaprio’s birthday, maybe I’ll celebrate by watching one of these movies. Did any of your favorites make the cut? I’d rank all of them, but it would just be too hard to choose.
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Zero time Tony Award winner • Production Assistant • Serial rewatcher
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