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.

[Porkchopexpress]

Yup I can take him or leave him in fluff like 'Catch me if You Can', but I'm more than happy to jump on the 'The Aviator' bandwagon, saw that film based solely on the Mr Burns riff on Hughes in The Simpsons. Dicaprio is magnificent in that film, lots of depth and charm in the despair of his condition.

I was just flicking through my film collection and trying to pick out what films I actually bought with him in, 'Gilbert Grape' and 'The beach' are both in there, 'The Beach' is decent enough, if you look at it from the perspective of an American haphazardly fucking up paradise.

That's about it, although I've seen 'This Boys Life' a few times on t.v. and have enjoyed it every time. 'Critters 3' less so.....Oh 'Basketball Diaries was alright, if only for the bit where marky mark gest his arm broken being a wise guy. aAmusing.

'Inception' is a corker that goes without saying, but some of the more recent stuff 'Blood Diamond', 'The Departed' I haven't seen and well 'Shutter Island' bleh.

With the right material he's invincible, can't pinpoint though when he went from being a skinny romantic lead to an adult actor of undeniable skill.

Anyone remember what film he made after 'The Beach''? He can be a prodigious talent and certainly his time with Scorsese (for the most part) has been a mutual beneficial collaboration to both.

He can't do comedy for shit though!

[Jonesy]

His main film after The Beach was Gangs of New York, one turkey followed by another. The Beach was fucking awful, and in no way should the main character of Richard have been played by an American. American society and British society are very different and the novel is a socio-political statement regarding British society. DiCaprio was completely miscast, and Danny Boyle should have been ashamed at allowing the studio to dictate box office expectations to him. I hate that film with a passion. But then I hate Gangs of New York too, but for completely different reasons.

As for DiCaprio, I've liked him recently - Body of Lies, The Departed, Shutter Island and Inception are all decent films and he was decent in them. But Romeo and Juliet, Dude? He did not have the talent for that role. Shakespeare is notoriously difficult to do; many actors think they have the talent, but they mistake overwrought dramatic acting for Shakespearean acting. Shakespeare needs subtlety at times, something most American actors don't understand.

[thedude]

Originally Posted by Jonesy

The Beach was fucking awful, and in no way should the main character of Richard have been played by an American.

Yes and massive yes.

Originally Posted by Jonesy

But then I hate Gangs of New York too, but for completely different reasons.

A tad off topic but may I ask why? Im a fan of the film, but for all the wrong reasons, its a choice of fave I'd rather keep on the hush-hush.

Originally Posted by Jonesy

But Romeo and Juliet, Dude? He did not have the talent for that role. Shakespeare is notoriously difficult to do; many actors think they have the talent, but they mistake overwrought dramatic acting for Shakespearean acting. Shakespeare needs subtlety at times, something most American actors don't understand.

I thought everyone was poor, overall I thought the film itself was poor. But perhaps its with now slight rose tinted glasses that I look back on it, as I have not seen the film since it was released, and at the time was no fan of his and now am.

Yeees, Yanks cant do The Bard, not at all, I saw a few moments of Pacino attempting some, all shouting and grand body language....very, very wrong.

[Jonesy]

Originally Posted by thedude

A tad off topic but may I ask why? Im a fan of the film, but for all the wrong reasons, its a choice of fave I'd rather keep on the hush-hush.

Daniel Day Lewis' performance mainly. An over-blown embarrassment. I think he's a good actor, when kept in check, but in Gangs of New York, he was excrutiating. Diaz was also mis-cast, and over all the film was a mess. Up to that point, I hadn't realised how low Scorsese could sink.