DiCaprio's Unscripted Mastery: Scorsese & De Niro Astonished!

Summary

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Ernest Burkhart in Martin Scorsese's upcoming Western epic, Killers of the Flower Moon, which also stars Robert De Niro.

Scorsese remembers the contrasting styles of the two actors, with DiCaprio's approach involving extensive discussions and improvisation, causing both him and De Niro to express their exasperation through eye-rolling.

Based on the film's trailers, reviews, and early buzz, it appears that this could potentially be DiCaprio's most impressive performance to date.

Martin Scorsese, director of Killers of the Flower Moon, fondly recalls teasing Leonardo DiCaprio for his consistent improvisation alongside Robert De Niro during filming. Adapted from David Grann's eponymous book, Scorsese's highly-anticipated Western masterpiece delves into the Osage murders that occurred in the 1920s after the discovery of oil on their land in Northern Oklahoma. The stellar cast of Killers of the Flower Moon features DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart, De Niro as William Hale, and Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart.

Ahead of the release of Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorsese reflects in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on the contrasting acting styles of DiCaprio and De Niro. While De Niro tended to be more reserved, DiCaprio, according to Scorsese, consistently sought discussion and improvisation for his scenes. Scorsese jokingly mentions that DiCaprio's improvising seemed endless, leading to occasional eye rolls between himself and De Niro. They would advise DiCaprio that dialogue was unnecessary in certain instances.

Will Killers Of The Flower Moon Be DiCaprio's Best Performance?

DiCaprio is widely revered as one of today's finest actors, with a remarkable portfolio of award-winning movies, including several collaborations with Scorsese. Notably, DiCaprio received Best Actor nominations at the Oscars for both The Aviator and The Wolf of Wall Street, with the latter being regarded as one of his most iconic roles. However, it was his performance in 2015's The Revenant that ultimately earned DiCaprio the coveted Best Actor win.

While films like Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and Django Unchained continue to be significant milestones in DiCaprio's career, there's a strong possibility that his portrayal in Killers of the Flower Moon will surpass them all in terms of critical acclaim. In Scorsese's new movie, DiCaprio delves into the role of a morally dubious character, willingly entangling himself in the sinister (and violent) plots of William Hale to steal oil from the Osage community. The movie trailers have already offered a glimpse of DiCaprio's exceptional performance, showcasing his mastery of accents and transformative appearance.

The cast and performances in The Killers of the Flower Moon have received consistent praise from reviewers, with special acclaim for Leonardo DiCaprio. Thelma Schoonmaker, the film's editor, even considers it to be DiCaprio's finest work. Although there were moments when the actor's improvisation seemed excessive, it ultimately contributed to a nuanced and impactful performance.