Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by spanky87

I remember it was dismissed as being “girlie” to be a DiCaprio fan until he started collaborating with Scorsese. Particularly around the time of Aviator it became more acceptable to consider him a “legit” actor instead of just a teen heartthrob.

I know what you mean, but I was a man of about 42 when he first hit for "This Boy's Life" and "Gilbert Grape", and I already thought he was a splendid young actor.

I even loved "Titanic". It got the inevitable backlash punishment for being so successful, and the little girls making such a matinee idol out of him for a time. But it was overall very well received and swept awards and so on, and I thought it and he were great.

I love that he followed the huge boat and 'Iron Mask' movies with a smaller part in a Woody movie.

And, yes, once he started working with all of these big directors (Scorsese and Spielberg in the same year!), he really got taken seriously after that.

But, again, I was a fan all along.


It's also great to see De Niro doing some great work again. From 1973 to 1998 or so, he was the greatest. Then, although he had the ocassional bright spot here and there, he mostly did sub-par movies for around 20 years. But, I've loved this late-career renaissance he's had with "The Irishman", "Joker", and now "Killers of the Flower Moon".


Lily Gladstone is supposed to be the real movie-stealer here, and she's just breaking out big. She was great in "Certain Women".

[spanky87]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Lily Gladstone is supposed to be the real movie-stealer here, and she's just breaking out big. She was great in "Certain Women".

Yes, this is true. Hopefully she doesn’t get overshadowed by Leo if her performance is as great as the reviews suggest. Will be a big deal when she becomes the first Native American nominee for best actress.

I remember her stealing the show in Kelly Reichardt‘s Certain Woman years ago. And she’s been very articulate in her interviews during the Flower Moon press (pre-strike). I like the way she speaks about her craft here and the research they did for the movie:

KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (2023) Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone Cannes Interview - YouTube

[slumcat]

Originally Posted by BluRayTim

Like who, Ryan Gosling? He’s big right now, but Leo’s much, much better than Ryan.

Holy christ godalmighty no.

[slumcat]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Nah, more like if it wasn't for Titanic (and Romeo & Juliet) and that small window in the late 90s-early 2000s when he was seen as a teen heartthrob, people wouldn't be questioning his acting talent today.

I've been a fan of his acting ever since seeing him in Gilbert Grape, This Boy's Life and Basketball Diaries back in the early 90s.

Popularity doesn't take away from talent. There are plenty of very popular stars who are also great actors.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Not counting very early stuff like 'Growing Pains' or "Critters 3", once DiCaprio did the one-two punch of "This Boy's Life" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" in the same year, I have been a fan of his ever since.

There's really only one or two things he was in that I didn't care for ("J.Edgar" was pretty terrible; "Blood Diamond" and "Body of Lies" were pretty mediocre). Otherwise, I've loved most of his work, especially the Scorsese films, the Tarantino films, and the Spielberg film.

I'd have given him Oscars for "Gilbert Grape", "The Aviator", "The Wolf of Wall Street", and "The Revenant", if it were up to me.

I think he's fantastic. And I love that he's not out doing silly rom-coms or comic book movies.

He's one of the only actors (now, only barely) under 50 that I actually like.

The Aviator is my favorite of his, and actually my favorite Scorsese! (Saw it in theaters as a teen still discovering film and was blown away!

[Blu Lemmy]

Those who say Pitt cannot act must not have seen Snatch.....

DiCaprio is head and shoulders above most in Hollywood, especially Ryan Gosling.

C'mon people!

[travisbickle]

Originally Posted by slumcat

He's not totally terrible but entirely unremarkable and uninteresting as a performer. I also do not see what others see in him. There's like loads more watchable performers than him.

Yep. Serviceable actor, nothing more.

I also find it hilarious that even though he's nearly 50, his voice still cracks whenever he shouts.

[spanky87]

Sometimes the voice crack adds to the performance (and is probably deliberate). Like when he lets out that last “I’m not ****ing leaving!” in Wolf of Wall Street.

I always thought he still had a baby face all throughout his adult roles, but this is the first film where he looks properly like a rugged older man.

[slumcat]

Originally Posted by travisbickle

Yep. Serviceable actor, nothing more.

I also find it hilarious that even though he's nearly 50, his voice still cracks whenever he shouts.

There is something pathetic about clinging to his long forgotten youth. The only time he played his age recently was in Don't Look Up where he plays a father of grown children. But even there as if to placate his movie star ego, his character gets a bang a superhot and famous superstar tv anchor.

[Michael11]

I like Dicaprio, my only criticism of him is that he struggles with subtlety, much like Tom Hardy. Too intense, even in calmer moments.

Good actor though.

[Lee A Stewart]

I am sure the acting will be top notch, but this story is a real heart breaker. IMO, it's going to stir up a lot of anger.

[Monterey Jack]

Finally, some early matinees next week (they got stolen by Swifty for the weekend).

[Zivouhr]

Despite having different costumes or visuals, I notice that most actors tend to give the same performances, relying on the same style and delivery of lines, but with different lines and roles in many films more often than not. It's rare to find character actors who completely change their voice and delivery for a new role.

For example, Jack Lemmon is brilliant in the movie Glengary Glenross, but going back to his earlier roles, like the classic Out of Towners, or China Syndrome with the nuclear meltdown threat, he uses his familiar intensity each time, like his trademark style.
DeNiro, great actor, but it's very rare where I watch him act and can think, "That's a totally new acting style I have never seen from him before." Many times though, the producers and directors want those trademark styles in their films. Cape Fear, he uses a southern accent which was unique. Awakenings, he completely changes his delivery and style.

Looking forward to checking this film out when I have time. I hope it's in the theaters for more than a week if it's a timed event before streaming.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by slumcat

Popularity doesn't take away from talent. There are plenty of very popular stars who are also great actors.

No, but in the case of DiCaprio it skewed people's perception of him, so they dismiss him as some "teen idol" even though he proved his acting talent long before that period of his career, as well as a significant period afterwards.

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Looking forward to checking this film out when I have time. I hope it's in the theaters for more than a week if it's a timed event before streaming.

It'll have a regular theatrical run.

[Blu Myers]

Are people really saying DeCaprio is a "serviceable" actor. Like.....seriously?!

[DukeTogo84]

Pretty crazy that there is even a debate if Leonardo is a good actor or not.

[travisbickle]

Originally Posted by Blu Myers

Are people really saying DeCaprio is a "serviceable" actor. Like.....seriously?!

One of the most overrated actors ever. I've never seen any movie that he's been in and thought to myself... "Wow, he's the only actor I could ever see in this role."

What's insane is that there are people in this thread saying that he's one of the best actors ever... Brando, DeNiro, Pacino, Nicholson, Oldman, Day Lewis....



^One of these things is not like the others.

EDIT: I'll also add that Leo probably wouldn't have a career if it weren't for River Phoenix's death.

Similar looking and a better actor.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Pretty crazy that there is even a debate if Leonardo is a good actor or not.

Yeah, I'll take the word of Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Ridley Scott, Quentin Tarantino, James Cameron, Woody Allen, Christopher Nolan, Sam Mendes, Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis, Roger Ebert, Gene Siskel, Vincent Canby, etc., etc., etc. ..... About his acting talents.

These are some of the people on record praising his acting.

I'll take their word over some anonymous forum board guys anytime.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by travisbickle

I'll also add that Leo probably wouldn't have a career if it weren't for River Phoenix's death.

DiCaprio had already made the movie that brought him his first Oscar nomination by the time River Phoenix died. So... no.