Leonardo DiCaprio

[thedude]

How good is this guy?
Many labels get bandied around for Leo, the new DeNiro/Pacino being the most common. But is he that good? Or is he better?
Is he one of the few fine actors of this generation? I cant really remember him being bad in anything, but then I havent seen all of his films. What do the esteem memebers of this forum think?

[Kiba.]

Good thread idea, dude. Well, having come from been a teen heartthrob around the time of Romeo and Juliet, then starring in the biggest movie of all time (until Avatar) Titanic, it's easy to be disparaging of DiCaprio's achievements in film and resent him for having been teen idol fodder.
But I don't think he deserves the stick. Leo is talented and professional, always solid in performance and on the whole has made decent career choices. He has the admiration of his peers and the respect of most of the older generation of actors, De Niro, Nicholson etc. He's a favourite Scorsese muse.
I found his performances in Revolutionary Road and The Aviator convincing and affecting. So sue me, but I like the guy.

DiCaprio keeps his head down, generally avoids the ostentatious spotlight that some stars court *cough Tom Cruise*cough* and gets the job done. He is no longer relying on teen idol looks and can play anyone these days. He'll be around for a long time I think.

[thedude]

Sums up exactly how I feel about him. He is one of the few actors I would watch a film for, even if I didnt really fancy it. The Aviator being one, I found the film to be fairly standard, yet DiCaprio was captivating.
I watched Catch Me If You Can the other day, and he is fantastic in it, subtly yet energetic, he conveys a mischevious child doing wrong and a man on the edge of reason with apparent ease. Safe to say Im a fairly big fan.

[Jonesy]

I can never make up my mind with Di Caprio. I thought he was brilliant in Gilbert Grape, but hated him in Romeo and Juliet and Titanic. Then struggled to consider him an 'adult' actor for a long time. I remember watching Aviator and thinking, 'my god, Di Caprio has grown up'. That was probably the first film for over a decade that made me see him as a decent actor.

[thedude]

Originally Posted by Jonesy

I can never make up my mind with Di Caprio. I thought he was brilliant in Gilbert Grape, but hated him in Romeo and Juliet and Titanic. Then struggled to consider him an 'adult' actor for a long time. I remember watching Aviator and thinking, 'my god, Di Caprio has grown up'. That was probably the first film for over a decade that made me see him as a decent actor.

In regards to Romeo + Juliet & Titanic was it his acting you hated or the script? I only ask because while I am no fan of either films I still found him watchable then.
How about other performances of his, The Departed perhaps, or Shutter Island?

[jaykays hat]

He is fast becoming one of my favorite actors and having his name on the film makes me want to watch it. He is getting better and better.