Summary
Over the years,Leonardo DiCapriohas played a number of iconic roles, yet in 2010, the actor took on two almost identical characters within months of each other.Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting career began in 1989when he began earning minor parts on television, including the TV reboot of the movie,Parenthood.Just a few years later, DiCaprio took on what would become his breakout roles, including projects likeThis Boy’s Lifeand the coming-of-age movieWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape?Since then,DiCaprio has risen to A-list celebrity status, best known for movies likeThe Wolf of Wall Street, Titanic,andRomeo + Juliet.
Because Leonardo DiCaprio started his career at a young age, it has been interesting to see the roles he has been given over the years. As a young man, DiCaprio often played precocious yet intelligent characters who were scrappy but did incredible things. Jack inTitanicand Frank Abnegale Jr. inCatch Me If You Canare strong examples. However, in his later years,DiCaprio has transitioned into darker, more dynamic roles. His characters are still eccentric, but hide traumatic pasts and morally ambiguous actions. A great example of this is the two movies DiCaprio led in 2010.
The 8 Leonardo DiCaprio Movies That Defined His Career
Leonardo DiCaprio has risen to the top of Hollywood, and there are certain movies which have provided important stepping stones on his journey.
DiCaprio Starred In Inception & Shutter Island In The Same Year
Inception & Shutter Island Have A Lot In Common
In 2010,Leonardo DiCaprio starred in two popular movies:Shutter IslandandInception.The first one to premiere was theMartin Scorsese-directedShutter Island.This psychological thriller follows a U.S. Marshal who arrives at an isolated insane asylum to investigate the disappearance of a patient from her locked room. A few months later, DiCaprio starred inInception.This sci-fi film tells the story of Dom, a man who can infiltrate people’s dreams, and as a result, is asked to take on a dangerous mission: planting a thought in someone’s head.
Shutter IslandandInceptionwere both directed by notable directors.Shutter Islandwas directed by Martin Scorsese, whileInceptionwas directed by Christopher Nolan.
Undoubtedly,Shutter IslandandInceptionhave a lot in common. Aside from both starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the movies are both dark and thrilling. They throw audiences into mysterious scenarios where both the characters and viewers have to work hard to decipher how the world works and what is going on. Furthermore,bothShutter IslandandInceptionoffer up surprising twists and turnsthat make the movies iconic even 14 years later. These mind-bending movies take viewers on an engaging journey through the main character’s trauma and his desire to break free of his past.
How DiCaprio’s Inception & Shutter Island Characters Compare
DiCaprio’s Characters Hide Important Information
DiCaprio’sShutter IslandandInceptioncharacters share a number of commonalities. InShutter Island,DiCaprio plays Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshal who is dedicated to solving this case, no matter how strange or inexplicable it is. In the same vein,Inception’sDom Cobb is driven to complete this difficult mission in order to redeem himself. The most interesting aspect of these characters is that they are on the same journey without really realizing it. Both men are running from their traumatic pasts, butonly Dom understands his full story; Teddy’s truth doesn’t come out until much later.
Unlike the characters of DiCaprio’s youth, Teddy and Dom are seasoned and have clearly seen a lot of dark things over the years.
From a personality perspective, Teddy and Dom are also very similar. Both are serious and determined people who are wary of asking for help. Unlike thefilm characters of DiCaprio’s youth, Teddy and Dom are seasoned and have clearly seen a lot of dark things over the years. Ultimately,these traumatic pasts affect how Teddy and Dom go about their present-day struggles. The main difference is that Dom knows what is driving him. On the other hand, Teddy has pushed away his past in favor of fantasy. Regardless, both men have virtually the same goal.
Inception vs. Shutter Island: Which Was DiCaprio’s Best 2010 Movie?
Inception Is Critically Better But Shutter Island Is Highly Entertaining
Shutter IslandandInceptionboth have their merits, butInceptionis probably the better of the two DiCaprio movies. After its premiere in the summer of 2010,Inceptionreceived eight Academy Award nominationsand won four Oscars. Meanwhile,Shutter Islandreceived no nominations. Furthermore,Inceptionhas a higher Rotten Tomatoes score thanShutter Island.WhileInceptionreceived 87%,Shutter Islandonly has 69%. As a result,Inceptionperformed better critically thanShutter Island.
However, from an audience perspective, both films are certainly worth the watch. ThoughInceptionwas lauded by critics, it can still be confusing and will perhaps not appeal to everyone.Shutter Island,on the other hand, may have more of a mass appealas a psychological thriller than a sci-fi film. Ultimately, it is up to each audience member to decide which DiCaprio movie is a better fit for them. Regardless,Shutter IslandandInceptionrepresent a successful and exciting time inLeonardo DiCaprio’samazing career.
