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I Liked Leo Best When He Dribbled

October 13th 2007 01:29
Leonardo DiCaprio – he inspired ‘Leomania’ throughout the world after playing Jack Dawson in Titanic, he portrayed Howard Hughes in The Aviator, went out with supermodel Gisele Bundchen, is a favourite of cinema legend Martin Scorsese and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Blood Diamond. But it was his role as mentally handicapped Arnie Grape that that will always stand out for me.

Leonardo DiCaprio
Are you a Leomaniac? Image courtesy of people.com


With a gleeful fondness for climbing the water tower of Endora and playing hide-and-seek, Leo as Arnie outshines even Johnny Depp’s title character in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – no mean feat, according to moi.

DiCaprio was nineteen when he took on the role that would earn him his first Academy Award nomination. He spent time at a hospital for children with disabilities in order to prepare himself to play the youngest male Grape, and the results on film were astonishing.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Arnie 'hidden' in the tree. Image Courtesy of boxofficemojo.com


Never has DiCaprio been more convincing. He wrenches from his audience an aching tenderness that along with the frustration, confusion, resoluteness, hopelessness and ingrained sense of dignity the rest of the characters invoke, gives this tragicomedy its eminence.

Michaelie Clark
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Comment by katyzzz

October 13th 2007 10:12


Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Oh, yuk! Love your wit Michaelie, he is rather dishy. Do you think he'd fancy me?

katyzzz

Comment by Mrs M

October 13th 2007 14:49


Mum's Word
Hi Michaelie,

It's been years since I've seen this film but I do remember that it was good.

I think I originally watched it because of Johnny Depp but Leonardo did a great job.

Have you seen Basketball Diaries? I think that was pre Romeo & Juliet. From memory Leonardo was also good in that one.

Love & stuff
Mrs M

Comment by James Rickard

October 13th 2007 16:01


unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
He's showing that he's getting past that pretty boy image and coming into his own as an actor. I'll admit that I screwed up and forgot about his role in Gilbert Grape. Anyone who sees that will know he was destined for great things. I guess the pretty boy thing was just a stage he had to go through. Now, it gotten to the point that if he's in a movie, I'll give it a go just on his name!

Comment by Michaelie

October 13th 2007 22:15


Flick Wit
Why thank you, Katyzzz!

And of course he would fancy you - from what I see there you've got it all going on!

Michaelie

Comment by Michaelie

October 13th 2007 22:30


Flick Wit
Mrs M,

I have seen Basketball Diaries, but not for some time - should have another look.

Johnny Depp is ALWAYS incredible. (Not a bad actor, either, lol.) The fact that Leo could upstage him in this says a lot. I think he's just been getting back into the roles that really show his talent, ie. The Departed and Blood Diamond, but to give a performance like that when he was so young... amazing.

Thanks for the comment, Mrs M!

Michaelie

Comment by Techno

October 13th 2007 22:33


Geeky Blog
Hey, what about me, nice lips babe, I'm in luv with ya, already.

Leonardo, nah, give him the flick chic wit

Techno the Movie Star

Comment by Michaelie

October 13th 2007 22:38


Flick Wit
James,

I'm the same. I never was a Leomaniac around the time of Titanic, but I just loved him in Gilbert Grape, and I'm liking the more matured approach he's taking to his roles now. Though I do suppose the image he garnered previously probably had more to do with hormonal teens than anything he really wanted to project, lol.

Thanks James!

Michaelie

Comment by Michaelie

October 13th 2007 22:44


Flick Wit
HAHA Techno, it's always a pleasure/ego boost.

Thanks for coming by!

Michaelie

Comment by JohnDoe

October 14th 2007 03:19


Film & TV on DVD
Gilbert Grape is a fantastic film and Leo deserved all the praise he got for it.

Basketball Diaries also impressed me.

Another fine post Michaelie...

Comment by Luke

October 14th 2007 13:01


Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior

It's good to see the Romeo & Juliet/Titanic/Beach backlash finally coming to an end as people realise that Leo is actually a great actor. I can't wait to see what else he does in the future... Blood Diamond, Aviator, Departed, Gilbert Grape and This Boy's Life are all tops, but my absolute favourite DiCaprio performance would have to be Catch Me If You Can - it was spot on.

Comment by Cibbuano

October 14th 2007 22:25


Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I'm reluctantly enjoying his work... After the double of The Departed and that crazy-good accent in Blood Diamond, it's hard not to appreciate his talent.

He always looks fresh faced, though...

Comment by Michaelie

October 15th 2007 02:45


Flick Wit
THANKS JD!

Comment by Louie

October 15th 2007 03:11


Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Leo's best film is his current Environment Doco....he may be jumping on the bandwagon but creating a doco is a pretty convincing jump...mind you Al Gore has made a fortune and pretty mch a career off of it

cool post

Comment by Michaelie

October 15th 2007 03:28


Flick Wit
Luke,

I really loved Catch Me If You Can too - better than Matchstick Men, which people seem to compare it to because of the con element.

Frank Abagnale's story fascinates me. I really liked the book, but Leo makes the movie live up to it, which is rare, I think.

Michaelie

Comment by Michaelie

October 15th 2007 03:33


Flick Wit
Cibbuano,

I guess he just can't help being beautiful! Such a blessing if you have no talent, but often a burden if you do!

He did well in Blood Diamond - that accent would have to be one of the harder ones to master.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michaelie

Comment by Michaelie

October 15th 2007 03:42


Flick Wit
Louie,

I haven't seen it but I know that he IS supposed to be one of the few celebs that are genuinely environmentally conscious. He doesn't just do 'cool green', apparently.

But you're right, cynically speaking, an environmental doco can up ANYONE's fame and fortune at the moment!

Thanks for the comment and the compliment, Louie!

Michaelie

Comment by KylieW

October 15th 2007 05:19


Celebrity Obsession
I'm not a huge Leo fan myself. But anyone who claims he can't act needs to watch Gilbert Grape and the Basketball Diaries. He was exceptional in both of those movies.


Comment by Michaelie

October 15th 2007 05:25


Flick Wit
Exactly Kylie!

And hopefully we'll be seeing more of that from him in the future.

Michaelie

Comment by Aimzster

October 15th 2007 06:04


Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
First Time Mum
I was not a fan of Leo when he first started. I didn't think he had charisma and I was of the same opinion with another celebrity who said he looked like a thirteen-year old lesbian. But Basketball Diaries was the first movie where he really caught my eye and Romeo Juliet only cemented his acting skills for me. It's good to see a young actor actually take his job seriously.

Comment by Michaelie

October 15th 2007 06:16


Flick Wit
Hey Aimzster,

I saw Gilbert Grape after I saw Titanic, so I had to revise my opinion of him too. He does seem devoted to the work more than the fame, which can only be a good thing, and he seems to be gaining his old momentum again now, so keep an eye on him!

Thanks for stopping by!

Michaelie

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