I'm sure this will come as a complete shock to many of you, but sometimes I daydream about being a movie star.

I have a psychobabble-based theory about actual movie stars, however: I think most of them understand how fleeting fame and fortune are, and many of them question whether they belong in Hollywood in the first place. I think many of them, in fact, daydream about being "real" movie stars -- Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando, people who were able to dictate their own terms in show business for decades.

I was thinking the other night about which modern actor probably inspires the most professional jealousy among his or her fellow screen stars, and I'm pretty sure I've figured it out. Starting in 2002, here are his released films, in order: "Gangs of New York", "Catch Me if You Can", "The Aviator", "The Departed", "Blood Diamond", "Body of Lies", "Revolutionary Road", "Shutter Island", "Inception". Now, from earlier in his career, add "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" (and Oscar nomination No. 1), "The Basketball Diaries", "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet" and "Marvin's Room" (trust me). And oh, yeah, there was that little "Titanic" movie.

Three Oscar nominations overall, plus Golden Globe noms and other accolades.

Ladies and gentlemen, as you've no doubt already guessed: Leonardo DiCaprio. Who, by the way, will turn 36 in November.

That is what "real" stardom looks like, which of course brings me to my next topic.

Movie Briefs

"Inception": My wife just informed me that last night, she dreamed about dreams within dreams. One of the marks of a great film, of course, is how it sticks with the viewer for a period of time. After being in a severe movie-watching drought for months now, I think it's too early for me to declare this one great, but I have little doubt it will end up in that category.

I love every single thing I can remember about this movie, from the great DiCaprio to the sultry Marion Cotillard to the terrifically understated Ellen Page to the wildly gifted supporting cast (Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Caine and a tremendous Joseph Gordon-Levitt, making a quantum leap away from his "Third Rock" days). Worth the ticket money, probably no matter how many times you see it.

"Revolutionary Road": A well-constructed, solidly depressing story about a young married couple in 1950s suburban New York. DiCaprio and Kate Winslet make it sing and sting, while the greatly underappreciated Michael Shannon steals every scene he's in to earn his first Oscar nom.

"Brooklyn's Finest": Great cast, mostly muddled story. Solid performances all around and bit parts from many TV stars you'll recognize, but overall there is no emotional payoff.

"She's Out of My League": Several standard deviations funnier than it ever had any right to be. Alice Eve makes the film with excellent comic timing, and Jay Baruchel proves he's got the chops to hold together a more-than-decent rom-com. Shockingly entertaining with some laugh-out-loud moments.

"Date Night": One of the most genius casting matchups ever, Steve Carell and Tina Fey are flat brilliant here. My sides legitimately hurt from laughing. The outtakes on the DVD pack even more quality into an already overstuffed package.

"8: The Mormon Proposition": As with just about any political documentary, the filmmaker's bias is apparent right up front -- in this case, clearly against the Mormon church's efforts toward passage of the 2008 California proposition that outlawed same-sex marriage in the state. I will not get political here, but I can pretty much guarantee you that no matter which side of the argument you're on, something in this film will make you angry.

"What one has, one ought to use; and whatever he does, he should do with all his might."

Cicero

Jeremy A. Corley is the managing editor of The Anna-Melissa Tribune and the Van Alstyne Leader. Questions and comments can be sent to him at jcorley@vanalstyneleader.com.