[slideshow_deploy id=’3055′]
Oscar buzz is back and we are all over it. Got your list of picks ready? We do. Of course, we could just hand ours over (*cough cough* 12 Years a Slave) but since we love a great debate, we’d rather jump into this year’s Academy Award controversy: Who deserves the award for Best Actor – Leo or Matt?
We love both men – for different reasons. Matthew McConaughey took a refreshing turn into a serious role in Dallas Buyers Club. He even lost 50 pounds to play an HIV-infected drug user (Boo. Where did those guns go?). Then there’s the always slick charm of Leonardo DiCaprio, who is oh so believable as the stockbroker who swindled investors out of millions in The Wolf of Wall Street. Keeping in mind that this particular gold statue is often handed to the actor who not only rocked this year’s role but also has a history of knocking our socks off, our vote is easy. It’s Leo all the way. Still on the fence? Here are 5 performances that prove Leo is WAY overdue for an Oscar. (Sorry, Matt. Your turn will come.)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) In his breakout big screen role, young unknown Leonardo DiCaprio stole the spotlight. Playing the mentally handicapped younger brother of Johnny Depp, he proved he was all raw talent when he left us asking Who is that kid?
Titanic (1997) The role of Jack Dawson catapulted the boy now known as Leo to a new level of super-stardom. And yet, while the movie itself won 11 of 14 nominations (including Best Picture), its star suffered a loud Oscar snub when he failed to receive even a single nomination.
Catch Me If You Can (2002) We first saw Leo as the ultimate fraudster in Catch Me If You Can, where he flashed his wicked grin as Frank Abagnale, a con artist who posed as a pilot, doctor and prosecutor. In this one, we couldn’t help but root for our bad-boy hero all the way.
Blood Diamond (2006) In arguably one of his strongest performances to date, Leo proved his sheer ability to play a guy we love to hate. Although this political war thriller netted Leo an Oscar nod, he was beat out by Forrest Whitaker. Darn.
Inception (2010) Nominated for Best Picture, Inception was one of those movies where you left the theater with your mind completely blown. As a baffled Leo kept wondering what was going on, we were found ourselves lost right along with him – up until the very end, that is.
PS. And a special nod goes to…All of Leo’s Martin Scorces Performances Leo and Martin have their own brand of bromance going on… and it works! They’ve collaborated on 5 films (so far) including Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), Shutter Island (2010) and of course, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). Case closed.
Featured Photo: Matt, David Torcivia [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons. Leo, Georges Biard [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
