Metal Mummy's Movie Meme 4 - Leonardo DiCaprio

OK this needs to be a quicky post - the removal men arrive tomorrow and we're nowhere near ready yet.

But this week of Metal Mummy's Movie Meme, the theme is one specific person:

"The actor in question is Leonardo DiCaprio. At the age of 36, and beginning his career in 1991, he has starred in 26 films – a large percentage of them being absolute box office smashes.

What’s your favourite film with him starring? If none of the 26 films he’s been in aren’t to your liking, why not? A blog post about this would also be perfectly fine. I love to hear what peoples’ opinions of actors are, even if they aren’t positive ones".

Now, if you'd asked me what I thought of him around the year 2000, I'd have said 'pah, pretty boy actor who's career seems like it's seen its best....he peaked at What's Eating Gilbert Grape and it's all been down hill since then, I honestly don't understand what people see in him'.

I HATE Titantic (1997). I think it's an atrocious movie, but then as you get to know me in future #MMMM's it won't take you long to discover that I hate romantic movies whereas Mr Devyne really likes them. He's watched Titanic tons of times.

Romeo + Juliet (1996)....hmmm. Whilst I like Baz Luhrmann's style and Shakespeare's script I just never saw what other women did in teen heartthrob Leonardo.

The Man in The Iron Mask (1998) deary me, a role he seemed totally uncomfortable in and some of the hammiest acting I've ever seen.

Nope, by 2000 I'd written him off. Wasn't bothered about him, didn't think him particularly talented.

And then he started his renaissance.

I remember when Mr Devyne bought Catch Me If You Can (2002) as a dvd to watch. I begrudgingly sat down to watch it (I have a love/hate relationship with Tom Hanks' movies too).

But the film blew me away. DiCaprio was outstanding. He could really act and I really enjoyed it. Great story, very stylish, great acting.....could this be a flukey one-off by DiCaprio?

In 2004, The Aviator came out. I really wanted to see it because it looked epic and Scorcese of course was directing it. I also adore the 1940's fashions and it had a superb cast....though Alan Alda possibly stole the show, I like him as a sleazy baddie and not at all like Hawkeye Pierce.

DiCaprio again was outstanding in this too - and I think this was the first movie that totally convinced me he could really act. How he deteriorates into the hermit Hughes became is just amazing.

I turned a corner with him. I agreed with him getting an Oscar for it. I now wasn't wary of his movies but actually quite eagerly looked forward to them.

And then in 2006, my favourite of his films so far came out - The Departed. I LOVE THIS MOVIE. I love all of the ensemble cast working together, Jack Nicholson is superb, but no more superb than Martin Sheen or Alec Baldwin, or Mark Wahlberg, or Matt Damon, or indeed Leonardo DiCaprio. The pace, the heightend suspense, the script, the feeling of being sucked into a strange world. It's fab.

 

 

I heard something about DiCpario not getting a nomination for Best Actor or Supporting Actor for The Departed because he didn't want to compete against his fellow stars, that he believed the power of the movie was that it was an ensemble piece, so the studio didn't fund any 'for your consideration' promos for him....I'd like to believe this is true even if it's just studio spin :)

So now I'm sold on Leonardo DiCaprio. I am persuaded that he is an outstanding actor and he seems to have grown into roles with far more authority and stature than his mere 36 years would suggest possible (he just owns Inception and Shutter Island).

I cannot wait for his Gatsby and J. Edgar Hoover's next year and I can see him going on to win lots more awards for his roles in years to come.

Right......back to packing - wish me luck!

Ps. I love The Simpsons' spoof The DeBarted too - classic stuff -"the rat symbolizes obviousness". My family always look to see if we can get the good stuff blue vines when we're at the supermarket....unfortunately we have to make do with red vines (red twisted licorice).