Films with young DiCaprio attract a large number of fans of his talent, despite the fact that he was still a very young and inexperienced actor. Critics and experts argue that the genius of the artist could be considered in his very first works. In this article, you will learn about these films, the roles that the Hollywood actor performed in them.
Childhood and youth
Films with young DiCaprio must have been seen by many of you. The popularity of this actor around the world is such that the audience is familiar even with his early works.
The actor was born in Los Angeles in 1974. He was the only child in the family of court clerk Irmelin and comic book author George.
Interestingly, the Hollywood star has Russian roots. His grandmother was an emigrant from Russia Elena Smirnova, whom her parents brought to Germany immediately after the October Revolution at the age of two. She married the German Wilhelm Indenbirken, with whom in 1955 he emigrated to the United States. She died in 2008.
Early work
The proximity of the actor’s father to the world of creativity contributed to the fact that Leonardo first appeared on the TV screen at 2.5 years old, when his father brought him to the popular children's television show.
Leonardo became an independent actor at the age of 14. He found an agent, began acting in commercials. He also managed to appear in several series - "New Adventures of Lassie", "Santa Barbara", "Rosanna".
Debut
The first film with young DiCaprio is Christine Peterson's fantastic comedy "Critters 3". This was another story about alien monsters.
Now they made their way to the apartment building in Los Angeles, hiding in the basement. Residents are trying to resist the aliens.
The character of DiCaprio in this tape is called Josh.
"This guy’s life"
After that, the hero of our article starred in the TV series Growth Diseases. But he left him very quickly, as he received an offer to star with Ellen Barkin and Robert De Niro in the biographical drama of Michael Caiton-Jones. In the film "The Life of this guy" in 1993, the hero of our article played the first serious role in the movie.
It was a film adaptation of the novel by professor of literature Tobias Wolfe, who talks about his childhood in the late 1950s and 1960s.
The narrative is on behalf of the teenager Toby, who plays DiCaprio. According to the plot, his mother Caroline after the divorce loses his eldest son, his father takes him into a new family. Together with Toby, she goes on an aimless trip around the country.
The 1993 film “This Boy’s Life” received mostly positive reviews from critics. For the hero of our article, this project can be called successful, they paid attention to him as a serious dramatic actor.
"What Eats Gilbert Grape"
In the same year, the actor also starred in the drama Lasse Hallstrom, which made a splash. It was a film adaptation of the eponymous novel by Peter Hedges about the Grape family, who lives on the outskirts of a provincial American town.
Bonnie lost her husband early. She grips her grief with countless fast foods, turning into a recluse. Her eldest daughter has a complete lack of prospects, since it is not even possible for her to find a suitable party for herself. Her 18-year-old son Arnie, played by DiCaprio, is growing mentally retarded. Doctors fear that he might die at any time. In addition, every time he is left unattended, he tries to climb onto the water tower.
There is also the youngest daughter Ellen, who at the age of 15 dreams of growing up as soon as possible. All of them are being looked after by the oldest brother in the family - Gilbert (actor - Johnny Depp).
The role of Leonardo DiCaprio in the film "What Eats Gilbert Grape" has amazed many. He received the Discovery of the Year Award from the Chicago Film Critics Association. The National Council of Film Critics of the United States presented him with the award as Best Supporting Actor. The talent of DiCaprio, an incredibly sincerely playing mentally retarded teenager, was obvious to everyone. This work made him recognizable and brought the first popularity.
"Full eclipse"
In 1994, the hero of our article played a small role in the little-known film "Party with Shots in the Legs", and the next year got the main role. In the biographical melodrama of Agnieszka Holland, "Total Eclipse" Leonardo DiCaprio appears in the image of the 19th-century French poet Arthur Rimbaud.
This film tells the story of Rambo's acquaintance and relationship with another famous poet of the time, Paul Verlaine (David Thewlis). The audience reacted with attention to this picture, because Rimbaud is still considered one of the most mysterious poets in European literature. He wrote all his virtuosic texts until the age of 20, after which he left classes in literature, doing business until the very end of his life.
The relationship between Rimbaud and Verlaine was one of the most dramatic episodes of his life. It is believed that between the poets there was a love affair. At the same time, they wandered around, constantly drank absinthe and were jealous of each other. Their relationship ended in a scandal in Brussels, when Verlaine, under the influence of absinthe, shot Rambo, wounding him in the arm.
After this, Paul received 2 years in prison, and Rimbaud went to Africa, forever abandoning poetry.
"Basketball Player Diary"
Describing films with young DiCaprio, you can recall the 1994 Sam Raimi's Fast and the Dead. But he plays the secondary role of Phi Herod there. But it gets invaluable experience, working on the same set with Gene Hackman and Sharon Stone.
The next year, he already plays the main character. This time in Scott Calvert’s drama Basketball Player Diary. How old is DiCaprio in this film, many of his fans are interested. He is here 21 years old. It is worth noting that by that time he was already quite a famous and accomplished artist.
This picture is a film adaptation of Jim Carroll's autobiographical novel, in which the narration is conducted on behalf of a 16-year-old student. He not only plays basketball well, but also writes soulful poems.
At some point, being in the wrong company, addicted to drugs. All this leads him to inevitable degradation. Only in prison does he get rid of addiction. However, most of his friends remain on the street, dying one by one.
"Romeo + Juliet"
The film with Leonardo DiCaprio "Romeo + Juliet" becomes the loudest and most successful melodrama of 1996. It is filmed by Baz Lurmann. This is a rather free interpretation of the classic tragedy of William Shakespeare, whose actions have been postponed in our time.
The teenage relationship between Romeo and his Juliet (actress Claire Danes) is overshadowed by the fact that their families are two warring gang clans. The events of the film unfold on the streets of an American city, around shooting, murders, criminal showdowns. Surprisingly, against this background, the director manages to almost completely save Shakespeare’s original text.
It is interesting that Lurmann immediately decided that DiCaprio would get the main role in his picture, but it was a long time who decided to play Juliet. Among the options were Christina Ricci, Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, Kate Winslet.
The picture had a good box office, exceeding the budget by 10 times. The premiere of the tape took place at the Berlin Film Festival. DiCaprio received Silver Bear as best actor. He was also awarded an award from the American company Blockbuster, which provides film rental services, in the nomination "Best Romantic Actor."
"Titanic"
"Titanic" - a disaster picture of 1997, shot by James Cameron. It shows the death of a liner called the Titanic. The main characters belong to different social strata. However, fall in love with each other on board the legendary ship. This will be the first and last flight of the Titanic.
In 1998, Titanic received the Academy Award in 11 nominations. It is often called the best movie in the genre of melodrama.
"The man in the iron mask"
The year after Titanic, the hero of our article plays a major role in the movie The Man in the Iron Mask. Leonardo DiCaprio in the adventure drama Randall Wallace appears in the image of the French king Louis XIV. He appears on the screen as a selfish and tyrannical ruler who is preoccupied with seducing women and entertaining more than administering the state and politics.
The plot itself is built around the mysterious prisoner of Louis, who went down in history under the nickname Iron Mask. Aged musketeers from Dumas novel decide to free a mysterious captive. In this version, it turns out to be the twin brother of Louis Philippe, who is also played by DiCaprio.
Having stolen him from prison, Athos has been training Philip for several weeks, preparing him to become king. During the ball, the musketeers bind Louis, and his brother takes his place on the throne.
Together with DiCaprio, many other stars appear in this picture - John Malkovich, Gerard Depardieu. In the small role of the royal adviser, Pierre even plays Hugh Laurie.
The film received ambiguous nominations from critics, and DiCaprio himself received the Golden Raspberry nomination for the worst acting duet (he was nominated along with his twin brother.
"Beach"
In 2000, after the advent of the adventure thriller Danny Boyle "Beach", DiCaprio finally established himself in the role of a superstar.
In this tape, he plays American Richard, who comes to Thailand, dreaming of an unusual vacation. From an occasional friend he learns about the beach on a secret island, which is a real paradise. Together with a couple of French tourists, Richard goes in search of this place.
Arriving at the indicated point, they find not only an amazingly beautiful beach, but also a hemp plantation, which is guarded by armed Thais. In the depths of the island, buddies stumble upon a commune founded by travelers like them. She is led by the imperious Sal. Three newcomers are trying to find their place in this utopian ideal world.
Reviews of the "Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio again were mixed. On the one hand, the picture was noted at the Berlin Festival. Danny Boyle received a prize as the best director. On the other hand, DiCaprio still got the Golden Raspberry, as he was recognized as the worst actor of the year.
Today we know that this did not bother him at all. He continued on his way to the top of his acting career. The filmography of Leonardo DiCaprio has more than 40 films, he also produced more than 15 films. After several unsuccessful attempts, he won the Oscar in 2016.