‘The Aviator’: The first movie Leonardo DiCaprio felt personally responsible for
Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese have established a legendary collaboration, resulting in critically acclaimed films such as The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Shutter Island, which stand out as defining moments in both of their careers. Their partnership began with Gangs of New York, after Robert De Niro, impressed by DiCaprio’s talent in This Boy’s Life, recommended the young actor to Scorsese. Since then, many of DiCaprio’s most iconic performances have flourished under Scorsese’s masterful direction.
However, the table flipped in 2004 when DiCaprio approached Scorsese with the story of Howard Hughes, bringing the material to him and suggesting that he direct it, and it was because of this that the actor felt particular pressure to bring the project to life.
The Aviator is a biographical drama chronicling the life of filmmaker and aviation trailblazer Howard Hughes, beginning in the 1920s and capturing his dual careers while battling obsessive-compulsive disorder. Spanning a three-hour runtime, Scorsese meticulously crafts an operatic and intricate portrayal of an underdog unravelling under immense pressure, teetering in the grey space between delusion and ambition as his lofty dreams ultimately lead to his undoing.
DiCaprio allows himself to be completely consumed by the role, capturing the madness of this character and the devastating conclusion of his life’s work. It is unsurprising that he was so committed to the role given that he was the one to encourage Scorsese to take on the project, saying that this sparked a sense of responsibility and care for the project that he hadn’t felt before.
When describing his early research process, DiCaprio said, “We did an investigation into who this character was, and this fascinating look into his mind through this screening room and the confinement of that. It was really a miraculous part of my life. I had never submerged myself and really focused on absolutely nothing but that film for eight or nine months of my life. I was so dedicated to that process. I felt a real responsibility for a movie, for the first time. When you grow up in the industry, the director is your father. You follow your father’s lead, but you make your own way. This was the first time I was like, ‘Here, dad, do you like it?’”
While the film has faced criticism for its length and script, some perceive it as messy and convoluted, while others regard it as the finest collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio. Featuring sometimes terrifying performances and a story that unfolds across decades, The Aviator is seen by many as Scorsese’s most undervalued film. It stands as a unique period piece, epic in scale, capturing the distinct eras of Hughes’ life with meticulous detail.
DiCaprio then went on to make The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street and Killers of the Flower Moon with the director, receiving critical acclaim for his performances and iconic snubs for some of them, with many fans being outraged that the actor didn’t win for his portrayal of Jordan Belfort. Who knows if the pair will reunite for another project, but given the creative partnership that the pair have built over the years, perhaps we can expect one more film.
