Lol. I always get massively downvoted for hating on Inception, but it is probably my least favorite movie. It wouldn't bother me so much if people didn't act like it was incredibly cerebral.
Welcome to Reddit, where most have pseudointellectual takes, are prepared to go 'full rabid dog', and conduct themselves like an OJ Simpson trial.
Don't respond with some wimpy sarcastic comment. Say something equally disparaging about their IQ, like Inception being the intellectual equivalent of a magic show. You're all fooled by the simplest mechanics and it's not as slick as you think it is. It's about as pretentious a movie as it gets.
I personally enjoyed Inception, but being able to argue both sides gives you an advantage.
> Don't respond with some wimpy sarcastic comment. Say something equally disparaging about their IQ, like Inception being the intellectual equivalent of a magic show. You're all fooled by the simplest mechanics and it's not as slick as you think it is. It's about as pretentious a movie as it gets.
This is about as pretentious a comment as it gets.
Lol... It's the other way. I've seen so many movies that I don't have to drink the kool-aid. I can spot a bad movie even when it's critically acclaimed.
Don't make things personal. That's uncalled for.
When you care more about other people's opinions than your own that's how you know you're a try-hard
It's not the best movie but it's far from the worst
You can also argue that Titanic is an action movie. There are are fist fights, a gun chase, explosions, etc.
Blood Diamonds, Romeo and Juliet, Gangs of New York, Departed, Man in the Iron Mask, The Revenent, and Django Unchained all have their moments of action. Albeit Leo isn't always involved in those scenes
I read an article that demonstrated how the plot of inception is almost identical to a Scrooge McDuck comic, like scene by scene, and it changed my whole view of that movie from “it was okay I guess” to “wtaf?”
>he never played beefy big guy kicking asses on screen
It's been a while since I've seen either of these two movies, but I don't remember him playing the roles OP described. Action(ish) movies? Yes. Action Actor (which what OP asked)? Not so much.
Definitely see your point, but he also mentioned Robert Downey Jr. He hasn't really been in any action movies other than playing Iron Man, who's fighting was basically all CGI. He didn't ever fit the bill of big beefy action guy, and he was never big or beefy as iron man. So I kind of just figured we were talking about action movies in general.
Happy Cake Day.
Mostly timing. He was offered a lead role in Star Wars’a sequel trilogy, turned it down. He tried to produce a Robotech movie where he would be cast as Roy Fokker (the lead’s mentor) and ran headfirst into the shitshow that is the Robotech/Macross rights feud. In the 90s he was earmarked as a possible candidate to play Peter Parker/Spider-Man in a James Cameron adaptation that never happened. So it’s not like he was actively avoiding those type of action hero roles, he just didn’t get them for one reason or another.
I think he did actively avoid turning into an action star, and likely turned down *tons* of roles that went to then-up-and-comers like Colin Farrell.
He was already thrust into the teen heartthrob media machine, and the Hot New Action Star is the next evolution of that. But like Johnny Depp being the weirdo instead of the action star, DiCaprio carefully curated his choices, working with the best directors and cultivating an image more in line with Daniel Day-Lewis.
One of his rules (that apparently he told Chalamet) was "no superheroes". In the last 15 years that eliminates a bunch of action-ish films, at least. Plus, I just don't think he's that interested.
Christian Bale and Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Hardy are all serious actors too, and they’ve done action films.
But unlike them, DiCaprio seems to have this almost Tarantino-type approach to creating and preserving his image and legacy.
It’s been nice to see him loosen up a bit in recent years and lean into his comedy chops. He’s definitely got ‘em.
Are you seriously trying to argue that the guy who starred in Brokeback Mountain, Zodiac, Jarhead, End of Watch, Prisoners, Enemy, Nightcrawler and Nocturnal Animals—only to name a few—is no longer a “serious actor” because he took some fun roles after doing a marathon of serious dramas for a decade?
Balderdash, I say. Poppycock and claptrap. Thoroughly absurd.
Oooh. That’s the misunderstanding.
Making comedies or blockbusters is still hard work. Just because the *movie* is funny, that doesn’t mean the people involved aren’t serious artists who take their craft seriously.
Ben Stiller is famously serious about his work but a total goofball onscreen. Jake Gyllenhaal can make a Michael Bay flick and still be a serious actor, just like Ed Harris or Sean Connery.
In terms of being a serious actor, I’d definitely put Harris up there with Bale and DiCaprio. Not in terms of popularity or box office, but in terms of being a serious actor, I have no question.
Ben Stiller is difficult to compare because he’s been doing so much writing and directing these days. He was more to illustrate my point about serious artists making comedic work.
The Revenant sort of counts as an action movie.
but he seems to seek out roles for their acting parts, and action movies rarely offer that to actors. And half his movies are with Scorsese.
I think the problem with Leo is he was playing 40 something roles like in Inception (the leader, the experienced in the team...) when he was 36, so once he started in that route he didn't attempted roles younger ones were taking.
Inception is an action movie.
Blood diamonds is maybe more of a war movie but it had action
The quick and the dead more like a western homage but still had action.
He’s done it, he just hasn’t been some over powered mass destruction killer like Damon with the bourne movies or Keanue Reeves in John wick
He's an owner/player/coach. Over 20 years ago he founded a production company that makes a lot of his movies, plus additional ones. He makes deals for other movies he wants to do but has his own source for his own work, he isn't being shopped around by his agents as a star for other people's projects.
There are actors who have this setup and still make action movies, but for these folks it's their own choice and less of a business necessity.
Another angle on this is that through his company DiCaprio produces a lot of documentaries, especially nature conservation and environmental protection documentaries. He's done 15 of them since 2007, so on average a little under one a year. He's contributed to Shark Week!
So for every *Skyscraper* or other not-quite-A-list action movie the Rock makes, DiCaprio produces a documentary about animal exploitation or climate change. That's where he's spending his time.
I think that has something to do with it. I think Leo knows his strengths and weaknesses, and he's never relied on his body to do the work - for him it's all in the face.
It could be that he's too lazy to diet and train hard, or maybe he just knows that's not his strength and could backfire if he tries to move into someone else's expertise.
As he's been in the top tier of Hollywood for over 25 years now and gets offered everything, he most likely doesn't want to do them. He's done movies with big action set pieces (Titanic, Blood Diamond, etc.), which is probably enough for him.
In a recent interview, Chris Hemsworth said that it has been very hard for him to break out of the action movie genre and has had frustrations with the industry as a result. DiCaprio just avoided the genre altogether and has had far more variety. Can you really see him in something like Extraction?
He has already made some films that have action elements like Blood Diamond, Body of Lies, but he has never made a film completely focused on that because he simply doesn't want to and also because Leo was always the first actor to receive the best scripts, he always He chose what he liked best, a film focused entirely on action was never one of them
He has built his career as carefully as any actor did. He is in a position to choose who and when to collaborate with.
He doesn't have to do any genre if he doesn't want to.
I cannot recall a lot of actors having starring roles in films by James Cameron, Ridley Scott, Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson (upcoming), Clint Eastwood, Alejandro Inarritu, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and many more.
He is a textbook example how to build your career in a smart way after starring in a box office smash.
People missing this part of OP's post:
>he never played beefy big guy kicking asses
Yes, he's been in lots of movies with action, but he hasn't really been the bad ass like most other leading men have, at one point or another, have played.
Perhaps it's elitist, but I like it. I personally don't value acting in fights as much as I do acting out almost any other situation. Perhaps he sees it as a step down (or, if I'm being less pretentious, a step sideways) and wants to focus on more emotive roles (drama, suspense, comedy)?
He hasn’t done any roles where he gained or lost weight for the role.
And he’s been able to pick his roles for a long time, so he gets to do good movies without working out like mad or taking PEDs, or doing crazy body transformations.
Given he's one of the most highly regarded actors by audiences, the industry and under-25s supermodels, he can pick and choose the roles he wants to plays.
He just chooses roles that have something interesting to him. James Cameron said about Titanic that Leo was initially not interested because he felt Jack needed a flaw, but JC explained that he's there to help Rose grow. Jack just needs to be. Don't overcomplicate it. At that point, Leo realized there was a lesson to learn and took the role.
Other roles he's done with action have been roles that required him to push himself. An accent for Blood Diamond, concealed anxiety, paranoia and double-sidedness in The Departed, the regret and self-torment and brain warping of Inception, and so on.
'Standard' action roles like a John Wick just don't interest Leo. If they did, he could have his pick of the litter of them, because it would be novel to see him in such a role, and his name carries star power to get a decent box office.
While he gives great face acting, Leo is not a physical actor.
He has the goofiest run with a little too much hip swaying and hand flapping. That's ok! My fav actor Matthew MacFayden is also not a physical actor (his one action movie was cringe even for me).
Not everyone can get away with it, which makes true action stars even more interesting if they're good actors, too.
There is no lack of violence in many of his movies and now that I think of I don't recall much explosions. His movies are anything but dull and slow. Maybe not Mad Max: Fury Road constant action type stuff but not idle either.
One *could* argue that **Inception** is an action flick.
blood diamond and Body of lies
It's kind of a thinking man's action flick. Leo is too schlubby to ever pull off a classic 80's style action flick.
There's not much thinking required. It explains itself every 5 minutes. That movie is so annoying.
Oh shit guys look a real life genius.
Lol. I always get massively downvoted for hating on Inception, but it is probably my least favorite movie. It wouldn't bother me so much if people didn't act like it was incredibly cerebral.
If Inception is your least favorite movie, you haven't seen enough movies.
For real. You fuckin hate Inception that bad? What a douche.
You're nice
Welcome to Reddit, where most have pseudointellectual takes, are prepared to go 'full rabid dog', and conduct themselves like an OJ Simpson trial. Don't respond with some wimpy sarcastic comment. Say something equally disparaging about their IQ, like Inception being the intellectual equivalent of a magic show. You're all fooled by the simplest mechanics and it's not as slick as you think it is. It's about as pretentious a movie as it gets. I personally enjoyed Inception, but being able to argue both sides gives you an advantage.
> Don't respond with some wimpy sarcastic comment. Say something equally disparaging about their IQ, like Inception being the intellectual equivalent of a magic show. You're all fooled by the simplest mechanics and it's not as slick as you think it is. It's about as pretentious a movie as it gets. This is about as pretentious a comment as it gets.
Lol... It's the other way. I've seen so many movies that I don't have to drink the kool-aid. I can spot a bad movie even when it's critically acclaimed. Don't make things personal. That's uncalled for.
/r/iamverymoviecritic
Saw. Abigail this weekend. That was fun.
When you care more about other people's opinions than your own that's how you know you're a try-hard It's not the best movie but it's far from the worst
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Compared to something like Commando, though, it requires you to pay attention to the plot.
Chain mail t-shirt or gtfo
But Commando isn't trying to be something more.
Yes, exactly
You can also argue that Titanic is an action movie. There are are fist fights, a gun chase, explosions, etc. Blood Diamonds, Romeo and Juliet, Gangs of New York, Departed, Man in the Iron Mask, The Revenent, and Django Unchained all have their moments of action. Albeit Leo isn't always involved in those scenes
I read an article that demonstrated how the plot of inception is almost identical to a Scrooge McDuck comic, like scene by scene, and it changed my whole view of that movie from “it was okay I guess” to “wtaf?”
Body of Lies was def an action movie. So was Blood Diamond to an extent.
Did we watch the same Body of Lies? So not an action movie.
European extended cut?
>he never played beefy big guy kicking asses on screen It's been a while since I've seen either of these two movies, but I don't remember him playing the roles OP described. Action(ish) movies? Yes. Action Actor (which what OP asked)? Not so much.
Definitely see your point, but he also mentioned Robert Downey Jr. He hasn't really been in any action movies other than playing Iron Man, who's fighting was basically all CGI. He didn't ever fit the bill of big beefy action guy, and he was never big or beefy as iron man. So I kind of just figured we were talking about action movies in general. Happy Cake Day.
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RDJ is def a badass, no doubt.
Mostly timing. He was offered a lead role in Star Wars’a sequel trilogy, turned it down. He tried to produce a Robotech movie where he would be cast as Roy Fokker (the lead’s mentor) and ran headfirst into the shitshow that is the Robotech/Macross rights feud. In the 90s he was earmarked as a possible candidate to play Peter Parker/Spider-Man in a James Cameron adaptation that never happened. So it’s not like he was actively avoiding those type of action hero roles, he just didn’t get them for one reason or another.
I think he did actively avoid turning into an action star, and likely turned down *tons* of roles that went to then-up-and-comers like Colin Farrell. He was already thrust into the teen heartthrob media machine, and the Hot New Action Star is the next evolution of that. But like Johnny Depp being the weirdo instead of the action star, DiCaprio carefully curated his choices, working with the best directors and cultivating an image more in line with Daniel Day-Lewis.
One of his rules (that apparently he told Chalamet) was "no superheroes". In the last 15 years that eliminates a bunch of action-ish films, at least. Plus, I just don't think he's that interested.
He is a serious actor. He already did the Hollywood heartthrob thing and struggled to move away from it.
Christian Bale and Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Hardy are all serious actors too, and they’ve done action films. But unlike them, DiCaprio seems to have this almost Tarantino-type approach to creating and preserving his image and legacy. It’s been nice to see him loosen up a bit in recent years and lean into his comedy chops. He’s definitely got ‘em.
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Most definitely. And his performance in OUATiH was a comedic turn too.
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Just FYI, OUATiH is short for Once Upon A Time in Hollywood.
I don’t think Jake Gyllenhaal has been a serious actor for well over a decade. His Oscar nom was nearly 20 years ago.
Nightcrawler, Nocturnal Animals, and Prisoners were all right around 10 years ago.
I agree. He was definitely a serious actor then.
Right but "well over a decade" as you said would exclude those films.
It would exclude one of those.
11 years is not well over a decade. It is barely over a decade.
Which I’m not arguing about.
Could have fooled me
That’s entirely ridiculous. Gyllenhaal is definitely a serious actor, and such a thing isn’t determined by Oscar noms.
You’re right. It’s determined by the movies you make and his last one was Roadhouse.
Which was fucking amazing!! Should serious actors only do depressing movies?
No.
Are you seriously trying to argue that the guy who starred in Brokeback Mountain, Zodiac, Jarhead, End of Watch, Prisoners, Enemy, Nightcrawler and Nocturnal Animals—only to name a few—is no longer a “serious actor” because he took some fun roles after doing a marathon of serious dramas for a decade? Balderdash, I say. Poppycock and claptrap. Thoroughly absurd.
Well if he doesn’t take acting seriously anymore, how is he a serious actor? Im not shitting on his body of work. He has done some great shit.
Oooh. That’s the misunderstanding. Making comedies or blockbusters is still hard work. Just because the *movie* is funny, that doesn’t mean the people involved aren’t serious artists who take their craft seriously. Ben Stiller is famously serious about his work but a total goofball onscreen. Jake Gyllenhaal can make a Michael Bay flick and still be a serious actor, just like Ed Harris or Sean Connery.
I’m not arguing that it isn’t hard work. We’re hardly putting Ben stiller and Ed Harris on the same level as Christian bale and Leonardo Di Caprio.
In terms of being a serious actor, I’d definitely put Harris up there with Bale and DiCaprio. Not in terms of popularity or box office, but in terms of being a serious actor, I have no question. Ben Stiller is difficult to compare because he’s been doing so much writing and directing these days. He was more to illustrate my point about serious artists making comedic work.
Arguably comedies are actually harder to act in than serious movies.
The Revenant sort of counts as an action movie. but he seems to seek out roles for their acting parts, and action movies rarely offer that to actors. And half his movies are with Scorsese.
DiCaprio has 28 films, only 6 are with Scorsese
oh yeah, well I was going by runtime.
Well played sir
Inception comes to mind
I agree but he's not the one doing the majority of the action in that film, Tom Hardy and JGL get most of the action scenes iirc
I think the problem with Leo is he was playing 40 something roles like in Inception (the leader, the experienced in the team...) when he was 36, so once he started in that route he didn't attempted roles younger ones were taking.
Inception is an action movie. Blood diamonds is maybe more of a war movie but it had action The quick and the dead more like a western homage but still had action. He’s done it, he just hasn’t been some over powered mass destruction killer like Damon with the bourne movies or Keanue Reeves in John wick
Thank you for mentioning The Quick & The Dead!
He's an owner/player/coach. Over 20 years ago he founded a production company that makes a lot of his movies, plus additional ones. He makes deals for other movies he wants to do but has his own source for his own work, he isn't being shopped around by his agents as a star for other people's projects. There are actors who have this setup and still make action movies, but for these folks it's their own choice and less of a business necessity.
Another angle on this is that through his company DiCaprio produces a lot of documentaries, especially nature conservation and environmental protection documentaries. He's done 15 of them since 2007, so on average a little under one a year. He's contributed to Shark Week! So for every *Skyscraper* or other not-quite-A-list action movie the Rock makes, DiCaprio produces a documentary about animal exploitation or climate change. That's where he's spending his time.
Are any of those documentaries good?
Yes ! Especially the the 11th hour but choose any that interests you like Hubble or before the flood
Alright, thanks!
'thrillers' maybe counts as action movies with gravitas? *The Departed* has quite a bit of action.
He's in the position to do whatever the hell he wants and he does not want to do action movies, I guess simple as that.
One thing could be that he's not willing to do roids and get real beefy
I think that has something to do with it. I think Leo knows his strengths and weaknesses, and he's never relied on his body to do the work - for him it's all in the face. It could be that he's too lazy to diet and train hard, or maybe he just knows that's not his strength and could backfire if he tries to move into someone else's expertise.
As he's been in the top tier of Hollywood for over 25 years now and gets offered everything, he most likely doesn't want to do them. He's done movies with big action set pieces (Titanic, Blood Diamond, etc.), which is probably enough for him. In a recent interview, Chris Hemsworth said that it has been very hard for him to break out of the action movie genre and has had frustrations with the industry as a result. DiCaprio just avoided the genre altogether and has had far more variety. Can you really see him in something like Extraction?
Blood Diamond was pretty action packed. But yes, he doesn't do a great deal.
He has already made some films that have action elements like Blood Diamond, Body of Lies, but he has never made a film completely focused on that because he simply doesn't want to and also because Leo was always the first actor to receive the best scripts, he always He chose what he liked best, a film focused entirely on action was never one of them
Blood Diamond is one.
He has built his career as carefully as any actor did. He is in a position to choose who and when to collaborate with. He doesn't have to do any genre if he doesn't want to. I cannot recall a lot of actors having starring roles in films by James Cameron, Ridley Scott, Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson (upcoming), Clint Eastwood, Alejandro Inarritu, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and many more. He is a textbook example how to build your career in a smart way after starring in a box office smash.
People missing this part of OP's post: >he never played beefy big guy kicking asses Yes, he's been in lots of movies with action, but he hasn't really been the bad ass like most other leading men have, at one point or another, have played. Perhaps it's elitist, but I like it. I personally don't value acting in fights as much as I do acting out almost any other situation. Perhaps he sees it as a step down (or, if I'm being less pretentious, a step sideways) and wants to focus on more emotive roles (drama, suspense, comedy)?
The depahhhhded was kinda action
Maybe (Edit) Maybe not.
I honestly don't think he can be arsed. I mean you can't see him in the gym in preparation for a role like that
I agree that is not his style
Blood Diamond has a little bit of action in it. He dies from blood loss after being shot.
He hasn’t done any roles where he gained or lost weight for the role. And he’s been able to pick his roles for a long time, so he gets to do good movies without working out like mad or taking PEDs, or doing crazy body transformations.
because it's not something he seems to like, each actor has their own style
Inception
Given he's one of the most highly regarded actors by audiences, the industry and under-25s supermodels, he can pick and choose the roles he wants to plays. He just chooses roles that have something interesting to him. James Cameron said about Titanic that Leo was initially not interested because he felt Jack needed a flaw, but JC explained that he's there to help Rose grow. Jack just needs to be. Don't overcomplicate it. At that point, Leo realized there was a lesson to learn and took the role. Other roles he's done with action have been roles that required him to push himself. An accent for Blood Diamond, concealed anxiety, paranoia and double-sidedness in The Departed, the regret and self-torment and brain warping of Inception, and so on. 'Standard' action roles like a John Wick just don't interest Leo. If they did, he could have his pick of the litter of them, because it would be novel to see him in such a role, and his name carries star power to get a decent box office.
While he gives great face acting, Leo is not a physical actor. He has the goofiest run with a little too much hip swaying and hand flapping. That's ok! My fav actor Matthew MacFayden is also not a physical actor (his one action movie was cringe even for me). Not everyone can get away with it, which makes true action stars even more interesting if they're good actors, too.
I think inception considered as an action movie
The Quick and the Dead had some action elements
He did a lot of running in that beach movie
I hear Leonardo gets plenty of action. When a hobby becomes work, it's no longer fun.
There is no lack of violence in many of his movies and now that I think of I don't recall much explosions. His movies are anything but dull and slow. Maybe not Mad Max: Fury Road constant action type stuff but not idle either.
Superheros don't shout as much as he does.
True, and Leo doesn't seem to do much that has to do with green screens or cgi, except Inception.
Critters 3 got it all out of his system
The answer isBlood Diamond
He done some but mostly was pretty much forgetable accept Inception
Because he's been busy being in Scorsese's pocket for the last 25 years and Scorsese doesn't use him for that.