Agreed. It is laughable to portray him as anything other than a wimp.
I can't figure out if I'm mis-reading you or whether you're suggesting his character in Gilbert Grape was a wimp? Considering he was playing a youth with learning difficulties I find 'wimp' a very strange description of his character, if that is indeed what you were saying.
I thought he was excellent in Inception, Revolutionary Road, The Departed, Shutter Island, Blood Diamond, but my favourite would have to be What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
Definitely one of the best actors of his generation.
He's my favourite actor and has had many great performances but my top 5 are:
1) What's Eating Gilbert Grape
2) The Departed
3) Blood Diamond
4) Catch me if you can
5) The Aviator
I am yet to see Django but I'm sure it'll be great
He's undoubtedly a great actor but after watching Revolutionary Road with Kate Winslet, I feel there is some emotional depth or a certain gravitas lacking that is required from proper grown up heavyweight actors, what I mean is he always just looks and acts like a young guy, boyish even, for example there's a big emotional scene with Winslet where he does a histrionic mask of anguish thing like a toddler who's had their sweets taken away, it just didnt seem like a very mature reaction...just a bit OTT
Having said that he was mesmerising in the Great Gatsby even if he still looks like a boy.
He's undoubtedly a great actor but after watching Revolutionary Road with Kate Winslet, I feel there is some emotional depth or a certain gravitas lacking that is required from proper grown up heavyweight actors, what I mean is he always just looks and acts like a young guy, boyish even, for example there's a big emotional scene with Winslet where he does a histrionic mask of anguish thing like a toddler who's had their sweets taken away, it just didnt seem like a very mature reaction...just a bit OTT
Having said that he was mesmerising in the Great Gatsby even if he still looks like a boy.
To be fair he played the part of a young man. A young selfish up and coming businessman with young children. I thought he played the part brilliantly as did Kate Winslet who was more mature but desperately frustrated with her life and selfish immature husband.
Gilbert Grape, Basketball Diaries and This Boys Life.
I am going to get slated for saying this, but I find him really disappointing in recent years, he was great in Django, but I find him poor generally.
I don't know what it is, he showed such promise early on, but I'm very aware that he's acting in most films now, and I don't get into the character that much. I just don't get drawn into his performances.
Then again, I've been underwhelmed by some of his film choices, maybe they were just so overrated Inception, Departed, Blood Diamond so that could be something to do with it. I loved Shutter Island and Revolutionary Road but again found him off putting, and I don't know why?
He's undoubtedly a great actor but after watching Revolutionary Road with Kate Winslet, I feel there is some emotional depth or a certain gravitas lacking that is required from proper grown up heavyweight actors, what I mean is he always just looks and acts like a young guy, boyish even, for example there's a big emotional scene with Winslet where he does a histrionic mask of anguish thing like a toddler who's had their sweets taken away, it just didnt seem like a very mature reaction...just a bit OTT
You summed up exactly what I was trying to say, maybe it is the fact that he looks too boyish/young for the roles he's playing? I never thought of that before.
I'm surprised no-one has mentioned "Romeo and Juliet" yet. He was brilliant in that one - usually Romeo is the wimp in relation to Mercutio, but Leo just made the part so strong he stole the show.
I find him good in anything he's done - even the films I didn't like like Inception. Gilbert Grape is the outstanding performance for me, but I loved him in Blood Diamond, J. Edgar and Gatsby.
I think Leonardo Di Caprio is one of the most underrated actors of his generation.
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Definitely one of the best actors of his generation.
This film was my first thought too, he was also fairly good in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Basketball Diaries
1) What's Eating Gilbert Grape
2) The Departed
3) Blood Diamond
4) Catch me if you can
5) The Aviator
I am yet to see Django but I'm sure it'll be great
Been downhill ever since.
The work they did in the seventies - the work that cemented their status - is simply leagues ahead of anything Leo has done as the years advance.
Having said that he was mesmerising in the Great Gatsby even if he still looks like a boy.
To be fair he played the part of a young man. A young selfish up and coming businessman with young children. I thought he played the part brilliantly as did Kate Winslet who was more mature but desperately frustrated with her life and selfish immature husband.
I am going to get slated for saying this, but I find him really disappointing in recent years, he was great in Django, but I find him poor generally.
I don't know what it is, he showed such promise early on, but I'm very aware that he's acting in most films now, and I don't get into the character that much. I just don't get drawn into his performances.
Then again, I've been underwhelmed by some of his film choices, maybe they were just so overrated Inception, Departed, Blood Diamond so that could be something to do with it. I loved Shutter Island and Revolutionary Road but again found him off putting, and I don't know why?
You summed up exactly what I was trying to say, maybe it is the fact that he looks too boyish/young for the roles he's playing? I never thought of that before.
I find him good in anything he's done - even the films I didn't like like Inception. Gilbert Grape is the outstanding performance for me, but I loved him in Blood Diamond, J. Edgar and Gatsby.
I think Leonardo Di Caprio is one of the most underrated actors of his generation.