Thursday, April 18, 2024

Leo vs. Leo: Two Studios in Oscar Dogfight for DiCaprio

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Was Leonardo DiCaprio a Best Actor nominee in Martin Scorsese‘s “Shutter Island”?

Or was he a Best Actor nominee in Christopher Nolan’s “Inception”?

It’s an enviable position, and one in which DiCaprio has been before. He was nominated for “Blood Diamond” the same year he was great in Scorsese’s “The Departed.” But the former film won the campaign and the nomination.

Four years later, it looks like Scorsese will get the upper hand. There’s a big promo blitz for Leo in “Shutter Island.” Paramount has just bulked mailed a huge color brochure delineating DiCaprio’s movie career, culminating in “Shutter.” It’s war.

Which is a better film? Well, it depends on whom you ask. If anyone knew what actually happened in “Inception,” it would help. “Shutter Island”–while still a twisty mystery–does actually have a more solid premise.

Also interesting is the way the studios play it. Last time, with both “The Departed” and “Blood Diamond,” Leo was with Warner Bros. “Inception” is Warner’s. “Shutter” belongs to Paramount. But it does seem that Scorsese will be the trump card here. And “Shutter” screeners are already out. I just watched mine, and it plays great on big flat screen TV. It’s a terrific film. Of course, the “Inception” DVD should be pretty popular, as everyone tries to figure out the film.

DiCaprio is oft-nominated, but has never won an Oscar. He came close with “The Aviator.” Even with two films, he’s still running fourth or fifth back in a pack that includes Colin Firth, James Franco, Robert Duvall, and Mark Wahlberg.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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