MovieChat Forums > J. Edgar (2011) Discussion > Leo needs to break his habits..

Leo needs to break his habits..

posted 13 years ago by bs-2010
199 replies | jump to latest

It seems as though ever since the Departed Leo has been carrying along the same acting traits from character to character. I saw this trailer and he is doing the same squinty eyed, whispering line delivery that he did in the Departed, Inception, Shutter Island, and Body of Lies. He is doing the same serious eye-brow frown that he has done is his characters since the Departed. I like Leo especially in Gilbert Grape, the Aviator, and the Departed but it seems as though he has been doing the same thing since the Departed as far as how he portrays characters. Anyone else notice this?

[–] kuroko 13 years ago

I also agree with you that his performances are monotonous and he has a limited range. Add to that how you're used to seeing him in the media who acknowledge his celebrity status and that is why he can no longer disappear behind a role.

I for one never thought he was a good actor to begin with, I hate his delivery and OMG- is his head f"#$%&/ huge or what? How come people think of him as sex symbol?

intrepid/stupid

[–] mandrake62 13 years ago

Which expression do you want Mr. Eastwood? Number 1, 2 or 3.

No, we need a number 4.

I don't have a number 4.

Just kidding. He is a good actor.

In J. Edgar, he has gotten the voice, accent and look of Hoover spot on.

[–] charlottegoelz 13 years ago

I agree with bs-2010. Leo doesn't mold himself to different parts - the parts get molded to him. Although I haven't seen J. Edgar yet, I'm not expecting it will be any different. Leo is a big box-office draw and that's clearly why he gets so many good parts offered to him and not because of his superior acting skills. In my view he's coasting along on his fame and doesn't apply himself to creating a new character each time. Of course he's not alone. And whoever mentioned Keira Knightly - I totally agree. She plays herself in every role.

[–] AJarcher 13 years ago

A bit of explanation on how the Leo roles you saw ended up 'molded' to Leo wouldn't hurt, just so I can understand how you and I were watching completely different performances each time. I also find it unfair that the 'box office draw' argument was so quick to be brought out. It doesn't negate superior acting skills as often as some people think.

[–] Lerilu 13 years ago

" It seems as though ever since the Departed Leo has been carrying along the same acting traits from character to character.

I entirely, disagree.

I'm sorry that you don't see the diferences in the performnces of the different characters. That is not Leo's problem. It's yours.

[–] AJarcher 13 years ago

It sometimes boggles the mind, doesn't it? They hear the same voice, same accent, see the same looks even, in everything he's done? Unbelievable really.

[–] bs-2010 13 years ago

"I'm sorry that you don't see the diferences in the performnces of the different characters. That is not Leo's problem. It's yours. "

Or perhaps it is you with the problem because you can't see how he has been doing the same character for the past 10 years.

[–] zorrexip 13 years ago

It is unbelievable that DiCaprio's characters are seen, by some people, as the same.
The only similarities that I see are that Roger Ferris (Body of Lies) is an underover CIA agent working in the Middle East and Billy Costigan is an undercover cop working in Boston. However, the characters couldn't be more different than they are.

Howard Hughes - The Aviator.
Danny Archer - Blood Diamond.
Frank Wheeler - Revolutionary Road.
Teddy Daniels - Shutter Island.
Dom Cobb - Inception.
Hoover - J. Edgar.

DiCaprio gives each of them very distinctive personalities.

Truly, the problem is not in DiCaprio's performances but in some of the viewers who have a minimal capability of observation.

[–] bs-2010 13 years ago

"Truly, the problem is not in DiCaprio's performances but in some of the viewers who have a minimal capability of observation."

It is easy to accuse another of having limited observation capabilities. It is also easy to accuse one of being too blinded by the star power of the name to see how similar the performances are. I could say you hear "Leonardo DiCaprio" so you automatically have the pretense that the performance will be amazing. Therefore you are not looking for/want to see any flaws. And in that case, it would be you who possesses the limited capability of observation since you fail to see how he has been acting the same for a decade.

"the characters couldn't be more different than they are."

Obviously the characters are all very different. Billy Costigan shouldn't be like J Edgar which is what is really unbelievable since he acts the same while he is supposed to be portraying these very different characters.

[–] Lerilu 13 years ago

""I'm sorry that you don't see the diferences in the performnces of the different characters. That is not Leo's problem. It's yours. "

Or perhaps it is you with the problem because you can't see how he has been doing the same character for the past 10 years."

That's so lame!

I have been watching Leo's films since his first one. If he had been doing the same character and playing them in the same way, I would have long lost interest in him and I would not be here posting about him either.

He's an amazing actor and I can only say that I'm so sorry that you miss all the details, big and small, IN HIS ACTING that make his characters so different from one another.

[–] corinnacarpenter 12 years ago

I agree with you 100%.

I don't see what's so great about him.

Marry me,Bob Gunton!

[–] AlbaITA 13 years ago

I like him, I think he's a very talented actor and I loved most of his movies such as the ones you mentioned: Gilbert Grape, the Aviator, The Departed and Revolutionary Road. But to be honest I can not see him in this role, as J.Edgar Hoover. Unfortunately (fortunately for him though lol)he still looks too young, and also his voice sounds like the one of a very young man. So, I think he was miscast in this movie.

I think someone like Joe Pesci or Paul Giamatti (anyone?) would've been more suitable for this role.

[–] AutumnSF 13 years ago

I think Leo is brillliant in this role. I can't imagine any one else as as Hoover after watching him.

Joe Pesci and Paul Giamatti are too old to play young Hoover.

[–] EvieLee-NBH 13 years ago

I'm probably gonna catch some stones for this, but...I for one thing Leonardo Dicaprio is UNDERrated.

I am you and what I see is me.

[–] smgiannouli 13 years ago

He is such an amazing actor. One of the few who can actually act and be a star as well. I simply cannot understand why he doesn't allow himself to try new things! He seems afraid... That potential failure is not an option... I think that his new turn in Django Unchained might do the trick for him. I hope...

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[–] Stenian 13 years ago

I have to agree.

I'm so sick of him playing these roles. I just can't take him seriously anymore.