Can we all just take a big sigh of relief and say, "FINALLY!" OK, good. Last Sunday's Oscars was one for the books, especially because Leonardo DiCaprio finally won an Academy Award. He won Best Actor in a Leading Role for the movie "The Revenant". Through his 36 years career, Leonardo DiCaprio has gifted us with his story telling abilities from portraying a mentally disabled boy to a frontiersman. For many years, he has appeared on the big screen transforming us into his world. It is not only his handsome looks that got us loving him (OK, maybe a little), but it is also his genuine hard-work and love for the arts that has us all swoon. Let's take a look back at his past Academy nominations and find out why this year's was the one that brought him home an Oscar...
In 1993, Leonardo started alongside Johnny Deep in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and granted him his first Academy nomination at the age of 19. He played Deep's younger mentally impaired brother. This was the first time the world and the Academy took notice of DiCaprio, many not believing at first that he was not mentally ill. The movie took place in the Midwest, and broke many hearts for the little boy and Gilbert. It didn't take many people by surprise that he didn't win since Leo was so young and it was his first nomination. The Academy probably wanted to see what more he could offer and boy, did he have a lot.
"The Aviator" gave Leonardo his second nomination in 2005, through those years Titanic happened (and yeah, he didn't get nominated for that. Talk about a snub). In this movie, Leo plays real life Howard Hughes whose an inventor, aviator, aerospace engineer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur. The movie highlights all of Hughes roles and gives DiCaprio a range of characteristics to act on. At the end, Jamie Foxx ended up winning for his role in "Ray" which was no surprise since he won the Golden Globe and SAG for it. But this was the moment the entertainment business started seeing DiCaprio as real leading actor.
Two years later in 2007, "Blood Diamond" comes out and it takes place in 1999 in Sierra Leone. He portrays a a white Rhodesian gunrunner who is trying to smuggle diamonds into Liberia. Although, the movie did good in the box office it is one of Leo's movies that could easily be forgotten. It did not create enough buzz, causing it to not win any awards.
If you do not remember Leo's performance in the "Wolf of Wall Street" in 2014, were you hiding under a rock? This may be one of Leo's most talked about performances because his character was one you loved to hate. In this role, he got dirty and demanding. The movie was more of a comedy than a drama, which was refreshingly nice to see. Maybe that is why he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, but sadly... no Academy. Most likely, having to due with Matthew McConaughey's dramatic weight loss and role in "Dallas Buyers Club". Alright, alright, alright we will give it to the Academy this time... McConaughey's performance was flawless..
Now, to the movie that has given DiCaprio his sixth Academy nomination. In 2016. he starred in the movie "The Revenant". For those who have not seen the movie yet but will after his win, Leo's character is a frontiersmen who is motivated in the beginning by his son and later on by revenge. The movie is all about survival and a scorned father trying to catch his son's killer in the middle of severe harsh weather conditions taking place in the mountains and woods while recovering from a bear attack. Let it be known, Leonardo's character does not say more than 200 words in English but it was because his acting was all physical. DiCaprio was challenged physically and mentally for this movie. He could not rely on words to convey the story, but they were not needed with Leo's eyes and body telling us what his character was going through.
Leo more than deserved this Academy award for not only this movie but for his whole career and let us all hope it is not his last.
