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Leonardo DiCaprio He is one of the most famous actors in Hollywood. Starring in modern classics such as Titanic And lateThe actor has become famous for his ability to bring great emotional intensity and depth to his performances. In fact, this is exactly why he was nominated for six Academy Awards in acting categories, and eventually won Best Actor for The Movie yield in 2016.
However, not all of DiCaprio’s films have been met with critical acclaim, despite his amazing performance. Some flew under the radar and, over time, managed to gain recognition, while others were simply unfavorable to the public. from Gangs of New York to Revolutionary roadHere are 8 of Leonardo DiCaprio’s underrated movies.
8 Gangs of New York
Gangs of New YorkDirected by Martin Scorsese, the film is set in 1862 New York, with DiCaprio starring as Amsterdam Fallon, a man who returns to avenge his father’s murder against gang leader William Cutting, aka Bill. The Butcher, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis. The movie has a long backstory, with plenty of epic turns and twists that keep the audience in their seats. DiCaprio’s character goes through many emotions throughout the film as he struggles with not only vengeance, but the desire to create a safe haven and acceptance for the Irish people in a tough New York City.
7 The man in the iron mask
In the fictional adaptation of the story The three musketeersAnd The man in the iron maskDiCaprio is seen portraying King Louis XIV. However, he not only plays the King, but also the King’s secret twin brother, Philip. In this dual role, DiCaprio does an amazing job switching between good and evil twins with an ease that only the veteran actor can portray. However, he was not a veteran actor as this was one of his early film roles. This just proves that DiCaprio was born with a talent and is able to utilize it at a young age.
6 the pilot
the pilot It is none other than the autobiographical story of the legendary Howard Hughes. Scorsese directs this epic biopic about director and pilot Hughes, who, despite his massive success, didn’t have the dream life many would expect. Hughes suffered from a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which unfortunately hampered his career, relationships, and personal ambitions. DiCaprio’s portrayal of a man who had it all and then lost it due to a poorly understood mental health disorder is exceptional.
DiCaprio even met with famous psychologists to get into the mindset of someone with OCD. The way he studied the symptoms and effects of OCD, specifically in relation to Hughes’ condition, is already shown in the film. This is a great example of a movie that received massive praise from critics but, once again, snubbed DiCaprio.
5 Shutter Island
Another Scorsese/DiCaprio masterpiece on our list is Shutter Island. A psychological thriller with a lot of horror elements and an unexpected ending that leaves the audience shocked and horrified. Shutter Island It is another one of the famous duo’s greatest hits. And despite his brilliant performance as a man who has lost his mind, DiCaprio didn’t get an Oscar nod for his outstanding performance. Shutter Island It has withstood nearly two decades later as one of Scorsese’s best psychological dramas and one of DiCaprio’s most underrated performances.
4 Basketball Diaries
Playing the role of a young boy, Jim Carroll, who is obsessed with becoming a basketball star with a bright future, DiCaprio had to do a lot of not-so-pretty scenes for him. Basketball Diaries. Why? Because Jim was also unfortunately one of many young men who developed an appetite for the life-altering drug heroin. This movie shows the ugly, real, and family-broken effects of how heroin affects a person. By descending into theft, begging, and even sex work, Leonardo does a great job of depicting how drug use changes a person. Although the movie has redemption, much of it was dark and sad. DiCaprio did a great job portraying this character, and we give him props.
3 What eats Gilbert grapes?
In this tale about a young man named Gilbert Grape, played by Johnny Depp, we learn about the hardships of living in a small town and having to take care of his mentally challenged younger brother, Arnie (DiCaprio). What eats Gilbert grapes? It blossoms dramatically as we watch Gilbert and Arnie struggle with their lives and where they are supposed to fit in.
DiCaprio makes one of the best visual portrayals of an intellectually disabled individual that Hollywood has seen to date. This is due to the actor’s obvious talent, but also to visiting the homes of the mentally handicapped and spending time with such individuals. The actor has even stated that, for most of the movie, he’s not given any specific lines or actions. He simply had to come up with reactions and lines on the spot. Talk about a tough but heart-warming role!
2 The Wolf of Wall Street
Drugs, debauchery, sex and white collar crime – The Wolf of Wall Street He has it all. DiCaprio plays true criminal turned inspirational speaker Jordan Belfort. This slick, comical, cautionary tale about how more is never enough allows DiCaprio to drop the gauntlet and break out as a millionaire stockbroker. This is arguably the funniest performance of his career, as it allows him to show off his comedic chops in a way no previous role could.
This is yet another DiCaprio/Scorsese collaboration, and once again, the duo totally delivers, earning DiCaprio the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. As is typical of a Scorsese film, we hear Belfort’s inner talk throughout the movie. This insight into Balfour’s thought process provides wave after wave of hysterical commentary and serves as the perfect tool to help the audience understand the method behind the insanity of some of Belfort’s schemes.
Despite winning a Golden Globe, DiCaprio was nominated but could not score the Academy Award for Best Actor. He would finally receive that honor a few years later for his performance in the yield.
1 Revolutionary road
Revolutionary road It is one of DiCaprio’s lesser known films despite starring and co-starring two of Hollywood’s biggest actors Titanic. The film tells a bleak story of a strained marriage that leads to utter tragedy. The chemistry of Kate Winslet and DiCaprio is evident as the two make an incredibly compelling couple who have hit a rough spot in their marriage. DiCaprio plays Mr. Wheeler who is miserable at his job, while Mrs. Wheeler (played by Winslet) becomes somewhat resentful that she has given up on her dream of becoming an actress. Both performances are Oscar deserving, and the visceral pain we see DiCaprio express is excruciatingly painful. His performance in this movie cannot be overstated.
