Leonardo DiCaprio is one of Hollywood’s greatest leading men. He has accomplished some heavy hitting roles in his 23-year career. He has been nominated for only 3 Oscars and has won one of 8 Golden Globe nominations. His resume is astounding with films such as The Basketball Diaries, Romeo & Juliet, Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, The Beach, Shutter Island, The Departed, Blood Diamond, and Inception.
His latest endeavor was Django Unchained. He lost this year’s Golden Globe to his fellow actor Christoph Waltz. Both starred in the film and both delivered spine tingling performances. Leo plays “Monsieur” Calvin Candie (thinks he’s French but isn’t), a filthy rich slave owner who enjoys watching slave men fight to the death. In a very passionate and raged filled scene, Candie smashes his hand on a glass and DiCaprio’s hand actually began to bleed. He continued the scene and that is the cut Tarentino kept. [1] Looking at this role and some of the amazing other characters he has had the great opportunity to portray, one has to wonder: Does the Academy or Hollywood Foreign Press Association have a problem with Mr. DiCaprio?
It is well known how Hollywood politics work in the industry, so I would think it safe to assume that is the case for Leo. I don’t like it as someone who appreciates his work, but there is little one person can do.
Academy Awards
In 1994, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He lost to Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. Same thing happened at the Golden Gobes. Was there really any comparison?
In 2005, he was nominated for Best Actor in The Aviator. Jamie Foxx won for his portrayal of Ray Charles. Ok, there I can see real competition. In 2007, again he was nominated for Best Actor. The film was Blood Diamond. He lost to Forest Whitaker for The last King of Scotland. He also lost the Golden Globe in the same category.
Golden Globes
In 2007 he was nominated twice in the Best Actor category for his roles in Blood Diamond and The Departed. He still lost to Forest Whitaker.
In 2009 he lost to Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler). DiCaprio was up for his role in Revolutionary Road. I didn’t see Rourke’s film, but I did see Revolutionary Road. It was an incredible film and role.
I still wish Leo had won for his disgusting Candie character because I have never seen him play a character so villainous, evil, and rotten to the core. AND HE DIDN’T EVEN GET AN OSCAR NOMINATION!!!!!! Leo, at this point I think you are too good for these award shows. Hold out for The Kennedy Center Honors award. That will definitely put you in a league that only few actors will ever have the honor.
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Great! Great! job LB. U know I like Leo. Gosh looking over his body of work it’s ridiculous he doesn’t have an Oscar yet. I mean COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ve seen every one of his films except Dejango, which I intend to see this weekend.
Anyway, I think he should have won for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” but a male adolescent actor to win over an adult male actor? Is unheard of. Only women actors get marginalized by adolescents at the Oscars not men. Hahaha! He was also great in Blood Diamond but Forest Whitaker? Hmmm!!!! Leo picked a bad year.
LB,
This is an interesting and mysterious topic.
LB,
I’m beginning to think Leonardo doesn’t want an Oscar. Some of the really powerful leading men who are older have lives as predictable as non-Hollywood men of their age groups.
• Despite the likely benefits, DiCaprio resists conventional lifestyles possibly far more than what may be safe for dramatic royalty. Bruce Willis, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, and (until recently) “Russell Crow (not more than 15 to 20 years years older) didn’t seem any different than anyone else.
• He really doesn’t allow the gossip media into his personal life. We’ve heard bits and pieces about his relationships but most of his relationship partners have remained extremely discrete (in terms of details regarding their time together). Compared to Clooney, Pitt, and Depp (not more than 10 years older) we know next to nothing about DiCaprio’s preferences.
• We really don’t know what his ambitions are. The playbooks associated with Damon, Affleck, Wahlberg (not more than 5 years older) receive a lot more headlines than anything DiCaprio thinks.
Honestly I respect and appreciate his professionalism, but I’m beginning to think his lack of familiarity may be frowned on because his work (to me) seems fantastic.
CR,
Thank you! You might be onto something. I applaud him keeping his private life private and not giving in to tabloid fodder. With the roles and films he gets, he proves to me you don’t have to play the “game”. His talent is what keeps him going. Too bad HW won’t acknowledge his artistic abilities off-screen. Like I said, the KCA is more valuable in my book.
OB,
It’s sad that HW will pick seniority over talent. Not that I don’t love Tommy Lee! But I think the role of Arnie was FAR more challenging.
Ultimately I think he is a very complicated actor who frequenly chooses roles that appear to highlight his natural strengths.
Sorry: “frequenly”= “frequently”
hello everyone!
Hi, hi, hi LB!
How are you? WAtching Field of Dreams. 🙂
I’m good.
LB- What inspired u to write this article?
Well…I have always enjoyed Leo’s work. When I saw Django, I was seeing a side of Leo I have never seen in any other role. I know he had an extremely difficult time wrapping his head around this disgusting character, but he pulled it off magnificently. When he wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, I got ticked off! I mean seriously does he need to pull a shark out of his bum-hole to get an Oscar???? Anyway, that’s what inspired me to write about him. He is such a talent that consistently hits it out of the ballpark.
All great reasons. Yeah, I can’t wait to see him in Django. I really admire his ability to discern characters that will be of interest and challenging to him as well as the audience.
Jamie Foxx and Samuel Jackson had to talk him down the tree because he hated having to call them the N word and treating the AA onset so cruelly.
Hahahaha!
This is for Everyone.
What is your favorite Leo D. film and performance?
1. Django–Calivin Candie
2. WEGG–Arnie
3. Shutter Island–Teddy Daniels
4. The Departed–Billy
5. Catch Me If You Can–Frank
6. The Aviator–Howard Hughes
No particular order, but #1 is my all time stand out as of now. I’m really looking forward to The Great Gatsby even though I hate the story.
For me my favorite for performance are “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” & “Blood Diamond” and “The Aviator” for film.
What was it about these performances that stood out to you?
He really embodied Arnie. For “Blood Diamond” he was complex, unpredictable and u saw a full transformation occur in this character I like The Aviator for the same reason but I also like the cinematography, production design of the film.
I have worked with several autistic children ranging all over the spectrum. He was brilliant as Arnie and never once got out of character. That must have been physically exhausting.
Really, each time I see that movie it amazes me how he transformed himself.
Are there other actors/actresses that provide significant work but still watch the Oscar and GG pass by?
Hmm! Great Q. I have to think about that one.
What do you think of how Leo has handled his private life and media attention? How do you think he has been able to have such control?
Oh man, you’re favorite scene just came on the screen!!! It’s Ray’s dad! Aaaaannnnddd cue tears.
Stop it. I’m in a public place if I start crying they’ll think I’m crazy.
Seriously one of the best movies ever.
O.k. how about James Earl Jones? He got an honorary Oscar award in 2011.
Yes!!!! he is amazing and has the best speaking voice I have ever heard. I want him to narrate my life story. hahaha!!!!
Hahahaha! I know right.
If he start’s out my life story: He will begin with: “In a galaxy far, far, far away.”
hahahahahahahaa!!!!! That would be fantastic!
How about Amy Madigan? She is an amazing actress.
I’ve never heard of her. What has she been in?
Field of Dreams. She plays Annie.
Pretend I didn’t ask that last question. I’m glad I’m hiding behind my monitor. Yes, she is amazing and she really portrayed Annie right out of the book.
Oh! OMGosh! Ed Harris is another one. He’s been nominated 4 times but has never won. That’s INSANE!!! Anyway, Amy Madigan is married to Ed Harris.
LB- IMDb is my friend.I don’t want u to think I’m some film genius.
IMDB is one of technologies wonders of the internet. I love Ed Harris. So in looking at Ed, Leo, and others who have amazing careers but get passed up by Oscar and GG, how do we recognize these great actors other than just going to see their films?
O.k. what has been some of Leo D. best on screen chemistry performances between actor or actress?
Mmmmmm….definitely Kate winslet…I honestly think he has great chemistry with everyone.
Yes! ITA but what about Cate Blanchett?
That was weird for me because I’m not a Katherine Hepburn person.
Weird how?
Hepburn just seemed to manly for me.
Ah! Gotcha!!!
Here is another issue I have with Leo and the Oscars: how does Adrian Brody get an Oscar and then fall off the planet? I’m not saying he did t deserve his Oscar, but Leo is an actor to be reckoned with.
Oh! U don’t want me to go there? Hahahaha!
I actually, think its a curse to get an Oscar so soon when u are starting out. IMO u can kiss your career in HW goodbye if u get an Oscar to soon.
No, go there please!!
Hmm! Why don’t I go there later. Hahaha! No seriously. I think young leading men if they make it out of their twenties without an Oscar they will have a future. If u get one before then just forget it. That’s all I will say.
R u thinking anyone in particular? 😉
LB- I have to go. Great topic and article. I have more to add I will have to add them tomorrow.
Goodnight!!!
Goodnight!
OB,
Brad Pitt has also been passed over for awards. Do you think HW just assumes because certain actors do quality work, they don’t need an award or recognition?
Yes! They should consider getting nominated a blessing not a curse. That’s all I can say….
LB,
So sorry I missed the discussion. Leo started out on Growing Pains. 🙂 My favorite character is Arnie with Calvin Candie a distant second behind.
*High five* I really want to see DU again! There is so much to take in and so much talent to appreciate.
I’m seeing DU this weekend.
Wow! Both u and LB have now stated his character in DU is in the same league with Arnie. Now, I really have to see it. Hahaha!
LB,
Sorry I missed the discussion but I had a question (yet it’s kind of long).
One axiom for television romances is to maintain audience interest you CAN’T have the featured couple CROSS certain intimate boundaries. Other wise all suspense will be lost for the show. So some shows will extend romantic “honeymoons” as long as they possibly can.
• In the TV show “I Dream of Jeannie” some would claim the show died the minute Major and Jeannie formally became a couple.
• Some might claim once Darren and Samantha; of the TV show “Bewitched”, had Tabitha thrills on that show dwindled immediately.
• Of the soap opera “General Hospital,” Luke and Laura’s world wind courtship was sustained for years by never having them marry.
• The end of Sybil Sheppard Bruce Willis’ on tube courtship on “Moonlighting” pretty much announced the end of that show.
Do you think Hollywood is using Dicaprio as some sort of pressure gauge to keep audiences interested in award shows? Everyone knows Leonardo’s acting record is impeccable, are the powers that be using his reliability to further some other agenda?
Great question CR (and thanks for the videos)! I don’t know. He doesn’t get nominated every year, but when he is, I know i hsow a lot more interest. If the PTB are using his talent for their gain, pooh pooh on them. That’s disgusting and so low.
I guess I agree; unless there’s a bigger prize waiting for Leo than we currently expect.
LB,
Sorry I have another really long question.
It seems to me the only kind of stories that Hollywood loves more than…
• Shocking fresh new talent (typified by the Damon-Affleck Oscar win of years past). Actor Jennifer Lawrence might be this year’s candidate.
• Reliable talent proves even more brilliant (Roman Polanski’s Oscar win after years of being mired in scandal and less than wonderful reviews). Actor Hugh Jackman might be this year’s candidate.
• Almost lost then found, mature “Diamond in the Rough” finally gets recognized (Melissa Leo’s win after many years of being overlooked). Director Stephen Spielberg might be this year’s candidate.
…Is the comeback story (after years of being pigeon-holed as a TV actor and then a comedy actor, Tom Hanks emerges as everyone’s unexpected Oscar winner)? Is the academy award waiting to unveil Leo as an as yet unknown category?
What unknown category could their possibly be!?!? (That’s directed at the academy) He’s been an autistic boy, a mentally ill man, several romantic leads, and a ruthless, sicko slave owner. Playing a gay man isn’t shocking anymore. Playing a druggie isn’t shocking either. I mean unless he wants to take on such character roles like Depp…but even then I wouldn’t expect any less than the talent he is, so I don’t know what the hell the academy thinks.
LB,
Heaven forbid, what if Leo died tomorrow? What do tyou think the media would say about him? If they organized tributes to Heath Ledger, the ground swell for Leo would likely be ten times as large.
I think the Academy mistakes his reliability for insurance.
LB,
I love your concluding Kennedy Center synopsis but I think that scenario wonder if that would be a lose-lose conclusion for the Oscar. Making the Academy Awards an almost Golden Globes ceremony for the Kennedy Center. And I’m not sure that show is televised annually.
Despite Leo’s uncanny performance record, can you imagine any scenario where the Academy would willingly toss its authority to support another ceremony?
…. that scenario AND wonder…
Probably not, but at least he would be recognized for his whole body of work and contribution to the film industry. I just don’t like seeing someone not get what they deserve when they are consistent. I guess having his name known for generations is a good start, but COME ON PEOPLE!!! REcognize the talent!!! 🙂
Formally I agree, I just think their way of appreciating him is inappropriate.
He’s one of the culture’s biggest talents, it’s time he got treated like it.
I know why Leo doesn’t win any Oscars. Its not because he doesn’t have talent. He refuses to cough up the cash to buy his Oscar. If that’s what its truly come to then good for him. If it were me, I’d never want to win an Oscar. I want a career that I can look back on and know that I accomplished everything with dignity and didn’t cheat my way to the top. The Academy can keep their Oscar. He doesn’t need it for validation.
*APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!!* Yep, I don’t really see him campaigning/selling himself to the academy.
Paris- Triple snacks for u. LOL!!!
If I may add to Paris’s wonderful comment. IMO a vast body of work and career that one can be proud of, that audiences will remember for years to come and watch over and over, is far greater than receiving a gold statue for one night that will go on a shelf and collect dust.