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Is Leonardo DiCaprio Hollywood’s new kingpin? His position at the forefront of Inception, one of 2010’s most successful films, seemed to form the apex of both DiCaprio’s gradual ascent to superstardom and his ability to pick films which enjoy both critical and box office success.
It was not until 1993, in Lasse Hallström’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, that DiCaprio earned notoriety. His volatile yet endearing performance as the titular character’s mentally disabled brother earned him his first Golden Globe and Oscar nominations (both for Supporting Actor) and brought him to various directors’ attention.
One of those directors was juggernaut James Cameron. Having proved his prowess as a romantic lead in Baz Luhrmann’s visually explosive Romeo + Juliet, by convincingly and sensitively handling Shakespearean dialogue, he went on to earn a role in the second highest grossing film of all time, Titanic. Whilst appreciation for the film has waned somewhat over time, the sheer size of the movie gave DiCaprio the maximum exposure possible and showed that he was well suited to Hollywood blockbusters.
Despite the success of Romeo + Juliet and Titanic, and the largely positive praise DiCaprio received for his roles in them, the melodramatic nature of the performances that they required meant that there were still doubts about whether or not DiCaprio could offer more nuanced performances. Unfortunately, his next few films, including The Man in the Iron Mask and The Beach, whilst faring relatively well at the box office, didn’t really assuage these doubts and were largely slammed by critics.
Just as it was a big name director who helped establish DiCaprio’s Hollywood career, it was another two masters of the silver screen that helped to put him back on the path to becoming the star that he is today - Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. In 2002, DiCaprio shared starring roles in Spielberg’s frivolous romp Catch Me If You Can and Scorsese’s grim and gritty Gangs of New York. The two films allowed DiCaprio to showcase his ability to play both the charming and confident as well as the serious and emotionally engaging leading man. Whilst he was somewhat overshadowed by Daniel Day Lewis in Gangs of New York (who wouldn’t be?), DiCaprio proved he was an adept and versatile actor and, in working with Scorsese, had forged one of the most important links in his career.
From this point on, DiCaprio hasn’t really put another foot wrong, with a string of films that have been well represented come award season. His second collaboration with Scorsese, in 2004’s The Aviator, brought him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. His performance in the film, which he is alleged to have prepared for for over a year, is one of his best to date, as he showcases Howard Hughes’ transition from a debonair business magnate to an erratic, paranoid introvert. DiCaprio went on to earn another nomination for his role in Blood Diamond in 2006, the same year that The Departed was released- another excellent Scorsese collaboration.
It was in 2010 however, with sinister thriller Shutter Island, that DiCaprio helped Scorsese create the highest grossing film of the year. This helped prove that DiCaprio has earned the box office draw of a Will Smith or a Johnny Depp whilst maintaining the integrity of a Tom Hanks or a Kevin Spacey - something that he showcased in Inception, which itself remains intelligent and credible despite its blockbuster credentials.
Not feeling that he has worked with enough Hollywood royalty, DiCaprio is now working on a biopic about Herbert Hoover with Clint Eastwood. Revealing a penchant for alliteration, he has also bought the rights to the story of Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, a notorious American serial killer from the 19th Century, as he looks to continue to challenge himself with what will sure be one of his darkest roles yet.
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