Leonardo DiCaprio must be wondering what he has to do to finally make it to the stage of the Academy Awards and get his hands on that little golden statuette.
The tireless actor has been nominated for an Oscar three times, and each time he has undoubtedly given it his all.
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Leonardo DiCaprio has much to celebrate, just not an Oscar yet... and it's not for want of trying
The first time was back in 1993, when as a mere stripling, he looked set to steal Best Supporting Actor for 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'. That time, he was pipped by Tommy Lee Jones for 'The Fugitive', with Academy voters presumably assuming the prodigious actor had plenty of roles, time and future success left in him.
The second occasion in 2004, his veritable tour de force as Howard Hughes in 'The Aviator' got him a Lead Actor nod. But while his co-star Cate Blanchett scooped a gong, Leo was beaten to the post by Jamie Foxx for 'Ray'.
Undeterred, he threw his efforts into 'Blood Diamond', and was rewarded with another nomination in this category. This time, it was his co-star Djimon Hounsou who collected the accolades (National Board of Review, Las Vegas Film Critics Society awards), while Leo had to perfect his Oscar-smiley-loser face in favour of Forest Whitaker for his compelling turn as Idi Amin in 'Last King of Scotland'.
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Leo in fine form as Howard Hughes in 'The Aviator'
In addition, at 38 years old, DiCaprio has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award an impressive nine times in all… and only ever taken home one, for his role in 'The Aviator'.
This, despite being taken under the wing of Martin Scorsese, as a replacement muse of sorts for the much-celebrated Robert De Niro - who won an Oscar, under Marty's steerage, for 'Raging Bull'.
So, could it be Leo's year 2014?
In 'The Wolf of Wall Street', he pulls all his weapons together for a three-hour assault on the senses, with his interpretation of ambitious, charismatic, crooked broker Jordan Belfort inspired, he has revealed, by thoughts of how a Roman Emperor would behave, faced with the loss of his empire.
Once again working to Marty's megaphone, he screams, whispers, inspires, seduces and even wobbles (at one point, paralysed by a drug intake that could have felled a horse) his way through every scene. No actor should have to work this hard for no plaudits.
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Leo gives it his all once again as 'The Wolf of Wall Street'
And, if this doesn't work, he even has a role in reserve, as the enigmatic, tragic hero Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann's big-budget remake of F Scott Fitzgerald's iconic American novel.
Perhaps Leo needs a rethink… a small, foreign film? Subtitles? Black and white? Or a completely unrecognisable disguise of his good looks and scene-stealing monologues?
Or, perhaps, just perhaps, with a fortune estimated at $200m, the most revered directors in Hollywood on his speed dial, and a long list of Victoria's Secret girlfriends on his arm, a few gaps on the mantelpiece where there might have been a bit of salutary goldenware might not seem so important in the scheme of things. Saves dusting!
'The Wolf of Wall Street' is in UK cinemas from 17 January 2014. Watch the trailer below...
The tireless actor has been nominated for an Oscar three times, and each time he has undoubtedly given it his all.
The first time was back in 1993, when as a mere stripling, he looked set to steal Best Supporting Actor for 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'. That time, he was pipped by Tommy Lee Jones for 'The Fugitive', with Academy voters presumably assuming the prodigious actor had plenty of roles, time and future success left in him.
The second occasion in 2004, his veritable tour de force as Howard Hughes in 'The Aviator' got him a Lead Actor nod. But while his co-star Cate Blanchett scooped a gong, Leo was beaten to the post by Jamie Foxx for 'Ray'.
Undeterred, he threw his efforts into 'Blood Diamond', and was rewarded with another nomination in this category. This time, it was his co-star Djimon Hounsou who collected the accolades (National Board of Review, Las Vegas Film Critics Society awards), while Leo had to perfect his Oscar-smiley-loser face in favour of Forest Whitaker for his compelling turn as Idi Amin in 'Last King of Scotland'.
In addition, at 38 years old, DiCaprio has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award an impressive nine times in all… and only ever taken home one, for his role in 'The Aviator'.
This, despite being taken under the wing of Martin Scorsese, as a replacement muse of sorts for the much-celebrated Robert De Niro - who won an Oscar, under Marty's steerage, for 'Raging Bull'.
So, could it be Leo's year 2014?
In 'The Wolf of Wall Street', he pulls all his weapons together for a three-hour assault on the senses, with his interpretation of ambitious, charismatic, crooked broker Jordan Belfort inspired, he has revealed, by thoughts of how a Roman Emperor would behave, faced with the loss of his empire.
Once again working to Marty's megaphone, he screams, whispers, inspires, seduces and even wobbles (at one point, paralysed by a drug intake that could have felled a horse) his way through every scene. No actor should have to work this hard for no plaudits.
And, if this doesn't work, he even has a role in reserve, as the enigmatic, tragic hero Jay Gatsby in Baz Luhrmann's big-budget remake of F Scott Fitzgerald's iconic American novel.
Perhaps Leo needs a rethink… a small, foreign film? Subtitles? Black and white? Or a completely unrecognisable disguise of his good looks and scene-stealing monologues?
Or, perhaps, just perhaps, with a fortune estimated at $200m, the most revered directors in Hollywood on his speed dial, and a long list of Victoria's Secret girlfriends on his arm, a few gaps on the mantelpiece where there might have been a bit of salutary goldenware might not seem so important in the scheme of things. Saves dusting!
'The Wolf of Wall Street' is in UK cinemas from 17 January 2014. Watch the trailer below...