Leonardo DiCaprio

The Golden Miller

i was just going through some "best actor ever", "top 10 actors", "your favourite actor" type threads, and one name that didnt come up enough for me was DiCaprio and i couldnt really understand why. i would have always rated him in the brackets of one of the best ever and ive yet to see him throw out a bad performance.

is it just because he tends to stay away from the public eye? take "j.edgar" for example. a film which gained pretty average reviews, yet just about every critic said the one thing the film did have going for it, was another exceptional performance from DiCaprio. his run of films from "catch me if you can", "gangs of new york", "the aviator", "the departed", "blood diamond", "revolutionary road", "shutter island" and "inception" is just ridiculous. blockbuster after blockbuster with brilliant performances from him in each. even going back to his earlier stuff like "whats eating gilbert grape", "this boys life" etc the critics always commented on his ability.

his acting is at such a high standard every film, its hard to pick a stand out performance from him like you can with most actors in comparision to some of their weaker performances. i really believe this is a factor in him never winning the best male actor at the oscars. i know "the best ever" tag gets thrown around all too often in everything these days, but has there ever really been a better and more consistently brilliant actor than Di Caprio?

Duke Leonal Felmet

The Golden Miller wrote: »

i was just going through some "best actor ever", "top 10 actors", "your favourite actor" type threads, and one name that didnt come up enough for me was DiCaprio and i couldnt really understand why. i would have always rated him in the brackets of one of the best ever and ive yet to see him throw out a bad performance.

is it just because he tends to stay away from the public eye? take "j.edgar" for example. a film which gained pretty average reviews, yet just about every critic said the one thing the film did have going for it, was another exceptional performance from DiCaprio. his run of films from "catch me if you can", "gangs of new york", "the aviator", "the departed", "blood diamond", "revolutionary road", "shutter island" and "inception" is just ridiculous. blockbuster after blockbuster with brilliant performances from him in each. even going back to his earlier stuff like "whats eating gilbert grape", "this boys life" etc the critics always commented on his ability.

his acting is at such a high standard every film, its hard to pick a stand out performance from him like you can with most actors in comparision to some of their weaker performances. i really believe this is a factor in him never winning the best male actor at the oscars. i know "the best ever" tag get thrown around all to often in everything these days, but has there ever really been a better and more consistently brilliant actor than Di Caprio?

He is a fine actor, however, his style is more about subtlety which goes over most peoples heads, who think that shouting is good acting.

johnny_ultimate

He's OK, but he's no bowl of Special K.

HazDanz

He's phenomenal. I felt he moved up a gear in Shutter Island. Can't wait to see him win an oscar at some point.

Galwayguy35

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

He's OK, but he's no bowl of Special K.

I take it you havent seen him in The Departed or Blood Diamond? Sure his earlier films were nothing to shout about but i think he has really come into his own over the last few years.

johnny_ultimate

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

I take it you havent seen him in The Departed or Blood Diamond? Sure his earlier films were nothing to shout about but i think he has really come into his own over the last few years.

But of course. His performance isn't the one that stands out in The Departed, and Blood Diamond is IMO one of the most overrated films I've ever seen (directed by Ed Zwick, one of Hollywood's most reliable purveyors of missed opportunities).

Don't get me wrong, I most certainly like Di Caprio, and many of the films he's in. But I don't think he's an absolutely tremendous actor - just a really good one who's forged some worthwhile relationships with talented directors.

He's no Toshiro Mifune, anyway.

Duke Leonal Felmet

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

He's no <insert pretentious choice of actor here>, anyway.

Yeah, I totally agree.

johnny_ultimate

Duke Leonal Felmet wrote: »

Yeah, I totally agree.

Aha, the old Not Contemporary American = Pretentious argument again.

Duke Leonal Felmet

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Aha, the old Not Contemporary American = Pretentious argument again.

It's all about post-modernist Congolese black comedy, for me.

Mickeroo

Duke Leonal Felmet wrote: »

It's all about post-modernist Congolese black comedy, for me.

Come on, anyone with a basic knowledge of cinema knows who Toshiro Mifune is. There's nothing pretentious about kick ass brilliantly made samurai movies ffs.



I really like DiCaprio, he's an excellent actor and I can't think of one film where he wasn't really good (Critters 3 doesn't count since he was only a kid). I will say though he's very one note, he seems to play the same/similar characters a lot of the time. Sometimes its not his fault, Inception & Shutter Island for example, the characters were practically identical regardless of his performance. I've never seen a film where he completely owns the screen in the way pacino or deniro(or mifune :pac:) did at their height though.

InchicoreDude

I felt his best performance came in "Catch me if you can". He just seemed to play that role perfectly.

But yeah, he rarely lets down.

krudler

he should have won an Oscar for The Aviator

irishh_bob

krudler wrote: »

he should have won an Oscar for The Aviator

great individual performance but a pretty average film

SVG

Thought the thread was going to be about this video:

"When actors are rejected... and the academy does nothing... humourless biopics flourish."

I'm getting a bit sick of all the furrowed brow roles he's been doing lately- J. Edgar looks particularly bleak. Perhaps if he wins the oscar he'll try something lighter. He has range- he should mix it up a bit more.

Melion

Probably my favourite ever actor. Has never put in a bad performance, Titanic included. Im shocked he hasnt won an oscar yet, his best performance IMO was The Basketball Diaries.

Duke Leonal Felmet

irishh_bob wrote: »

great individual performance but a pretty average film

I quite liked it. One of Scorsese's best, imo.

I'm not into that gangster rubbish.

Tipsy McSwagger

He is a brilliant actor and a favourite of mine, but apart from Gilbert Grape he is a bit one dimensional. I personally think Philip Seymour Hoffman is the best actor in the world today and a better actor than Leo.

Da Shins Kelly

I think he's good, I always enjoy his movies and I think he's probably one of the better people from the younger generation. Having said that, there is something about him that leaves me slightly cold. For example, when I watch someone like Daniel Day-Lewis I know I'm watching an all-time great and I get sucked in fully. When I watch Di Caprio, I feel like I'm watching a very competent actor, but not one of the greatest actors to ever live. The whole time I'm very much aware that I'm watching Leonardo Di Caprio.

Duke Leonal Felmet

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

I think he's good, I always enjoy his movies and I think he's probably one of the better people from the younger generation. Having said that, there is something about him that leaves me slightly cold. For example, when I watch someone like Daniel Day-Lewis I know I'm watching an all-time great and I get sucked in fully. When I watch Di Caprio, I feel like I'm watching a very competent actor, but not one of the greatest actors to ever live. The whole time I'm very much aware that I'm watching Leonardo Di Caprio.

It's unfair to compare anyone fo DDL, the man is just so good.

But di Caprio is a different type of actor. His skill is in the subtley of his art. This is why some people believe he is 'wooden' or a 'one trick pony'. I think people simply miss what makes him great, it's not the scenes where he shouts or acts crazy that makes him great, to me. But rather the subtle looks and body language. The words that he doesn't say, if you will. I have a little bit of experience of amateur acting myself, and that stuff is the hardest to work on.

Da Shins Kelly

Duke Leonal Felmet wrote: »

It's unfair to compare anyone fo DDL, the man is just so good.

But di Caprio is a different type of actor. His skill is in the subtley of his art. This is why some people believe he is 'wooden' or a 'one trick pony'. I think people simply miss what makes him great, it's not the scenes where he shouts or acts crazy that makes him great, to me. But rather the subtle looks and body language. The words that he doesn't say, if you will. I have a little bit of experience of amateur acting myself, and that stuff is the hardest to work on.

I don't see how it's unfair to compare someone to Daniel Day-Lewis. If he's the best, then that's what everyone else who is serious about acting should be striving for. If people are going to claim that Di Caprio is such a great actor, then comparisons have to be made and you have to see where he stands alongside the best in the business.

I do think he is a good actor, like I said, probably one of the better of the younger generation. There is something about him that is missing for me though. I don't feel any connection with him at all and I don't really feel bowled over any time I watch a performance of his. That's not to say that he's a bad actor, I just don't really feel him all the time.

Duke Leonal Felmet

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

Duke Leonal Felmet wrote: »

It's unfair to compare anyone fo DDL, the man is just so good.

But di Caprio is a different type of actor. His skill is in the subtley of his art. This is why some people believe he is 'wooden' or a 'one trick pony'. I think people simply miss what makes him great, it's not the scenes where he shouts or acts crazy that makes him great, to me. But rather the subtle looks and body language. The words that he doesn't say, if you will. I have a little bit of experience of amateur acting myself, and that stuff is the hardest to work on.

I don't see how it's unfair to compare someone to Daniel Day-Lewis. If he's the best, then that's what everyone else who is serious about acting should be striving for. If people are going to claim that Di Caprio is such a great actor, then comparisons have to be made and you have to see where he stands alongside the best in the business.

I do think he is a good actor, like I said, probably one of the better of the younger generation. There is something about him that is missing for me though. I don't feel any connection with him at all and I don't really feel bowled over any time I watch a performance of his. That's not to say that he's a bad actor, I just don't really feel him all the time.

This incapsulates what I was saying about him though. Acting isn't all about storming around the place, shouting and such. That style of acting seems to dominate male acting today, which is a shame.

Da Shins Kelly

Duke Leonal Felmet wrote: »

This incapsulates what I was saying about him though. Acting isn't all about storming around the place, shouting and such. That style of acting seems to dominate male acting today, which is a shame.

I didn't say that it should be. Marlon Brando doesn't storm around, shouting in The Godfather, and it's still one of the most perfect pieces of acting. Of course there's a lot to be said for subtlety, but there is something about Di Caprio that doesn't connect with me. That is just me, though.

Ardent

I think he's the best actor in Hollywood and has been for some years. For me, he's at the same level that De Niro and Pacino were in their prime - he just blows everyone else away.

The only film I thought he did a bad job in was Gangs Of New York. It just didn't work but I think the blame for that lay more with the casting director rather than Di Caprio himself.

duiggers

In another 20 or 30 years he will have the same status that De Niro and Pacino enjoy now.

The majority of his films and his roles have been widely acclaimed

rossc007

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

He is a brilliant actor and a favourite of mine, but apart from Gilbert Grape he is a bit one dimensional.

NEVER, go full retard.

Tipsy McSwagger

Ardent wrote: »

I think he's the best actor in Hollywood and has been for some years. For me, he's at the same level that De Niro and Pacino were in their prime - he just blows everyone else away.

The only film I thought he did a bad job in was Gangs Of New York. It just didn't work but I think the blame for that lay more with the casting director rather than Di Caprio himself.

I don't mean this in an insulting way but you are talking absolute nonsense. Di Caprio is very good but he is not one of the all time greats and never will be. That's an exclusive club with names like De Niro, Pacino, Brando, Streep, Day Lewis, Spacey, Hackman and Dustin Hoffman in it.

Ardent

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Ardent wrote: »

I think he's the best actor in Hollywood and has been for some years. For me, he's at the same level that De Niro and Pacino were in their prime - he just blows everyone else away.

The only film I thought he did a bad job in was Gangs Of New York. It just didn't work but I think the blame for that lay more with the casting director rather than Di Caprio himself.

I don't mean this in an insulting way but you are talking absolute nonsense. Di Caprio is very good but he is not one of the all time greats and never will be. That's an exclusive club with names like De Niro, Pacino, Brando, Streep, Day Lewis, Spacey, Hackman and Dustin Hoffman in it.

He quite comfortably fits into that club IMO and is a better actor than some you just mentioned there.

JP Liz V1

One of the best if not the best actor of his generation

Da Shins Kelly

Ardent wrote: »

He quite comfortably fits into that club IMO and is a better actor than some you just mentioned there.

He's not better than any of those mentioned.

Duke Leonal Felmet

As a brief aside. 1970s/early 80s de Niro was great. After that, he bores me. Ditto Pacino, but less boring.

indough

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

He's not better than any of those mentioned.

he's easily better than dustin hoffman and kevin spacey. he has a better average then pacino too considering how crap he's been for the last decade and a half at least

Da Shins Kelly

indough wrote: »

he's easily better than dustin hoffman and kevin spacey. he has a better average then pacino too considering how crap he's been for the last decade and a half at least

Measuring the best performances of Pacino, Hoffman and Spacey against the best performances of Di Caprio, and there's no comparison in my opinion. The first three are better. At their peak with their best scripts, Pacino, Hoffman and Spacey have all pulled out absolutely stellar performances, completely unforgettable. With his best script, I don't think Di Caprio has had a performance quite as good as any of the above.

johnny_ultimate

I'm trying to think of films where Di Caprio is a highlight of the work in question, and TBH Blood Diamond is the only one that's popping to mind.

It's always important to differentiate between liking an actor and liking the films they're in. Di Caprio helps a lot of his films work - Aviator and Catch Me if You Can would have fallen apart particularly if he wasn't talented - but there's so few situations when I've come out thinking he gave a totally memorable performance. Inception is an example of this - if I was critiquing it, I'd heavily praise the direction, structure, soundtrack, cinematography and script as the more effective elements of the mix. I'd probably say a few of the performances are stronger than Di Caprios - Tom Hardy notably.

He's a great straight guy, and he's able to anchor a film with a sort of everyman performance he does pretty damn well. But while I'd come out of There Will Be Blood praising Day Lewis, or Winters Bone admiring Jennifer Lawerence, or Bronson applauding Hardy, with DiCaprio I often find myself praising others more prominently. I think few could deny his performances in Shutter Island and Inception hit many identical beats - heck, even the basic stories and character arcs of the two films share an awful lot in common.

Whiskey in the Jar

DiCaprio is quite underrated because of the way he looks and that Titanic participation
Don't know if you've watched What's eating Gilbert Grape, back then I was completely sure the crazy dude there was really some random crazy guy picked from a madhouse
He's good at The Beach, Catch me if u can, The Aviator, The Departed, Blood Diamond, Body of Lies, Shutter Island...
he is rarely involved in crap movies (personally i dislike titanic and the gangs of new york, but they're not crap)
Al pacino is iconic, but dustin hoffman.. please

duckworth

I think his reputation is undermined by the quality of films he's been in. You can compare him to De Niro or Pacino, but he's never been in films as good as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Godfather etc.

Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, Inception - none of these compare to the above work.

Oh, and Blood Diamond is worthy sentimental nonsense!!

Duke Leonal Felmet

duckworth wrote: »

I think his reputation is undermined by the quality of films he's been in. You can compare him to De Niro or Pacino, but he's never been in films as good as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Godfather etc.

Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, Inception - none of these compare to the above work.

Oh, and Blood Diamond is worthy sentimental nonsense!!

It remains to be seen how his career pans out. As we know, the so called legends of Pacino and de Niro haven't made a classic in thirty years (Goodfellas?, grow up...), and yet people fawn over them for continually playing the same roles over and over again. Bizarre.

We must wait and see on di Caprio.

johnny_ultimate

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I'm trying to think of films where Di Caprio is a highlight of the work in question, and TBH Blood Diamond is the only one that's popping to mind.

It's always important to differentiate between liking an actor and liking the films they're in. Di Caprio helps a lot of his films work - Aviator and Catch Me if You Can would have fallen apart particularly if he wasn't talented - but there's so few situations when I've come out thinking he gave a totally memorable performance. Inception is an example of this - if I was critiquing it, I'd heavily praise the direction, structure, soundtrack, cinematography and script as the more effective elements of the mix. I'd probably say a few of the performances are stronger than Di Caprios - Tom Hardy notably.

He's a great straight guy, and he's able to anchor a film with a sort of everyman performance he does pretty damn well. But while I'd come out of There Will Be Blood praising Day Lewis, or Winters Bone admiring Jennifer Lawerence, or Bronson applauding Hardy, with DiCaprio I often find myself praising others more prominently. I think few could deny his performances in Shutter Island and Inception hit many identical beats - heck, even the basic stories and character arcs of the two films share an awful lot in common.

I like how he never tries to show off and is comfortable enough to allow his co stars to hog the limelight so to speak. Far too often in ensembles you end up with actors trying to upstage one another but with DiCaprio this is never the case. Inception is a perfect example of this, he could easily have gone out of his way to make the film all about him with a larger than life performance. Instead he turned in a solid, understated performance which allowed his costars to shine that little bit extra. It's a rare quality in an actor, more often than not you hear about stars such as Christian Bale brining in writers to beef up their part at cost of his costars.

I've heard from people who have worked with DiCaprio that his working mentality is along the lines of whatever's best for the film. If it means his lines get cut or his scenes trimmed then so be it. The same people said that it wasn't uncommon for him to let other actors beef up their parts by delivering exposition that was written for originally for his character to deliver.

Little Acorn

He is one of my favourite actors.

I get scoffed at for choosing him as one of my favourites a bit, but some people will also pause for a minute and think about his films, then say "yeah, he is actually very good when you think about it".
I know there are other "greats" in the acting world, most of whom I also find brilliant, but DiCaprio has long been one who has really stood out for me.
His acting has made me laugh and cry, and I always get excited about a new film if I hear he is going to be in it.
I'm not really sure how to explain it, but I always find his characters very "believable". I can forget it is just a film, and really get sucked into the emotions he is portraying through his facial expressions, and tone. I know this is what all actors are meant to do, but I just find him particularly good at it, whereas I find many other actors dull, or just playing plain gimmicky typecasts.
He comes across as very likeable in interviews too.

I really like Anthony Hopkins a lot also. He has bucketloads of screen presence and I just love watching him.

I've only seen a fraction of their films, but usually really enjoy performances from Denzel Washington, Freeman, and Ciaran Hinds aswell.

I think DiCaprio will be viewed by many as one of the "greats" when he is much older.

UglyBolloxFace

Mickeroo wrote: »

Come on, anyone with a basic knowledge of cinema knows who Toshiro Mifune is. There's nothing pretentious about kick ass brilliantly made samurai movies ffs.



I really like DiCaprio, he's an excellent actor and I can't think of one film where he wasn't really good (Critters 3 doesn't count since he was only a kid). I will say though he's very one note, he seems to play the same/similar characters a lot of the time. Sometimes its not his fault, Inception & Shutter Island for example, the characters were practically identical regardless of his performance. I've never seen a film where he completely owns the screen in the way pacino or deniro(or mifune :pac:) did at their height though.

*Hipster*

Whiskey in the Jar

Robert De Niro played in 15 minutes, one of the worst movies ever made, why mention him

Duke Leonal Felmet

Little Acorn wrote: »

He is one of my favourite actors.

I get scoffed at for choosing him as one of my favourites a bit, but some people will also pause for a minute and think about his films, then say "yeah, he is actually very good when you think about it".
I know there are other "greats" in the acting world, most of whom I also find brilliant, but DiCaprio has long been one who has really stood out for me.
His acting has made me laugh and cry, and I always get excited about a new film if I hear he is going to be in it.
I'm not really sure how to explain it, but I always find his characters very "believable". I can forget it is just a film, and really get sucked into the emotions he is portraying through his facial expressions, and tone. I know this is what all actors are meant to do, but I just find him particularly good at it.

That is one of di Caprio's strengths, and one that is often overlooked, because most people think acting is storming around shouting or doing good accents. Di Caprio is acting briliiantly, even when he isn't speaking. That's pure stagecraft.