Saturday, February 8, 2020

Actors & SKIN: Leonardo DiCaprio


'I was always the kid in school who tried to get attention, not necessarily the class clown, but I’d do little unexpected performances.'
Leonardo DiCaprio


After a few years on television (Growing Pains, Parenthood) Leonardo DiCaprio hit the screen in a series of films showcasing his acting range.  I always respected DiCaprio's character choices, and he never shied away from playing more offbeat quirky characters, especially early in his career.


Although it was hs turn as the romantic lead in 1997's Titanic that brought him super stardom, my favorite DiCaprio performances were some of his early supporting parts.  The actors supporting  roles in What's Eating Gilbert Grape,  Marvin's Room and The Basketball Diaries helped cement his reputation as s serious actor and the one to watch.

The Basketball Diaries (1995)

Total Eclipse (1995)

One of the roles that earned DiCaprio a big following for some, was his role as Arthur Rimbaud in 1995's Total Eclipse.  It was a brave choice for an up and coming actor, not just because of the full frontal nudity, but the gay romance between Arthur and his mentor Paul Verlaine. (David Thewlis)  The theory in Hollywood is so often that gay roles and on-screen nudity can hurt a young actor's career, but DiCaprio proved that's not always the case.


Romeo + Juliet (1996)

The Aviator (2004)

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

No comments: