In praise of Leo

I saw Blood Diamond over the weekend and found it to be a challenging (albeit very, very violent) movie and a daring choice for a Christmas release. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio, who is (along with Johnny Depp) the most reliable and charismatic actor on the screen today.

As Danny Archer, Leo is an updated Rick Blaine, plying his trade in Africa instead of Casablanca. Savvy, streetwise, cynical but still basically decent. This is yet another movie where Leo held my interest and earned my admiration.

Loved him in:

• The Departed, where he was way less verbal yet still able to convey that he was also way more tortured.

• The Aviator, where he went from damaged boy to looney man while retaining our sympathy every step of the way.

• Catch Me if You Can, where he made larceny seem like such good, clean boyish fun that we dreaded his painfully inevitable capture.

• Marvin's Room, one of my all-time favorite movies, where he made the pain of trying to find your way almost palpable.

• What's Eating Gilbert Grape, where he was so good I didn't realize he wasn't a special kid until I saw him at the Oscars.

Oh, and then there's little movie about the boat. What was that again?

I know he's made movies I didn't list above. That isn't because I didn't love him in them. It's only because I haven't seen them yet.

I know he is considered a sex symbol. I know women who find him very attractive. I'm not one of those women, though. He's simply too damn young. Lusting after him would make me feel like Mary Kay LeTourneau.

But I look forward to his every movie, and he hasn't disappointed me yet.