First off, if you have not yet seen 'The Revenant,' the mesmerizing, beautifully shot and utterly powerful film that just won Leo his third Golden Globe, do yourself a tremendous favor and do so immediately. Seriously. Go now and just come back to this article later. I can wait. Leo has been my favorite actor for years. He is an incredible performer, who truly gives his all to each and every role. He consistently displays a sincere dedication to his craft byonly choosing the project he truly believes in, as he knows all too well the powerful impact film has. Furthermore, amidst what is often considered an egocentric industry, it is always beautiful to see Leo actively speak up for pivotal causes, notably his passion for the environment. And, as his recentacceptance speech proved, the importance of respecting and remembering the rich history of Native Americans. It is always an honor to watch him act, but what frustrates me is how underrated many of his films (and performances) are. Yes, 'Inception,' 'Wolf of Wall Street' and 'Titanic'are great, iconic films worth seeing, but there is so much more to Leo than Jack Dawson or Dom Cobb. Here is a reminder of just a few Leo films you absolutely must watch (or watch again).
1. 'The Aviator' (2004) Leo received his second Oscar nomination for this engrossing biopic that forever guaranteedLeo his spot as my favorite actor. Directed by Martin Scorsese (back when his only previous collaboration with Leo was 'Gangs of New York'), Leo stars as the legendary entrepreneur, filmmaker and aviator Howard Hughes. Complemented by memorable performances like Cate Blanchetts Oscar-winning turn as the iconic actress Katharine Hepburn and the lovable Alan Alda as Hughes antagonist, Leo truly shines in what is one of his best roles to date.
2. 'Whats Eating Gilbert Grape' (1993) Johnny Depp may be this films star, but its Leo who steals the show.
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