The Aviator: Leonardo Dicaprio Stars in a Thriller

The movie Aviator was up for Five Academy Awards and I couldn't help but resist to find out why so many people thought the film was so good. After watching it there was little doubt left in my mind that it was one of the best films of the year and Leonardo Dicaprio's performance measures up to that of Titanic. The film is directed by the great Martin Scorsese who has developed a strong bond with DiCaprio. 

DiCaprio plays the role of Howard Hughes, a Texas businessman who is rich and now directs films. Mr. Hughes expects to direct nothing but the best film and buys dozens of cameras to capture all of the action in his airplane war epic movie. He hires a meteorologist to find clouds for the perfect weather for his film and stops at nothing and spares no cost to make his film. 

The newspapers and media cover his story and discuss the issue of when his film is finally going to come out. When the film is finally ready to come out, Mr. Hughes stops its production when he feels something is missing from it: dialogue and talking. The production of his film drives him deeper into debt for the production and he has to mortgage some of his assets. When his film is finally ready to come out, it is made into a giant media spectacle. All of the celebrities attend and the film is deemed a huge success as the audience applauds. 

Not only does Mr. Hughes produce films, but he is also into the business of making airplanes. DiCaprio has his own business manager and airplane engineer who work for him. DiCaprio spends money out of his own pocket to get airplane designs off the ground. DiCaprio also develops a love affair with a woman named Katherine Hepburn played by actress Kate Blanchett. While the two remain romantically involved for a while, the love affair does not last because DiCaprio hates the media and the attention while Mrs. Hepburn loves the spotlight and attention since she is an actress.