Leo DiCaprio ‘still learning’ from Scorsese
Leonardo DiCaprio tells Channel 4 News working with Martin Scorsese is like “accessing his dreams”. He also told Stephanie West he also let slip about Mel Gibson’s next big project.
It is becoming something of a partnership: one time teen heart-throb Leonardo DiCaprio and iconic film-maker Martin Scorsese.
The last time the pair teamed up on screen was for The Departed, which went on to win four Oscars.
In new film, Shutter Island, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as US marshal Teddy Daniels who is investigating the disappearance of Rachel, played by Emily Mortimer, from a mental hospital.
During his visit, Teddy is plagued by vivid recollections of his days as a soldier liberating a Nazi camp and the death of his wife.
Speaking to Channel 4 News arts reporter, Stephanie West, DiCaprio explained the cerebral nature of the film, both as lead actor and for the viewer.
He said: “The nature of the screenplay and the original book by Dennis Lehane, makes this a complex journey through the mind, and one’s past and human trauma.
“You never feel settled during this movie. You can never quite put your finger on what’s going on on Shutter Island.” Leonardo DiCaprio
“[It is] a cathartic jouney to understand the truth about oneself. And it’s all encapsulated on this island.
“That’s what I love about Martin Scorses movies, that’s why he was the perfect film-maker to do it.
“There’s a certain level amount of ambiguity there… you never feel settled during this movie, you can never quite put your finger on what’s going on on Shutter Island.
“In talking about this movie, you realise that you have to let the audience come in with a certain open mind. On second or third viewings it will take on different meanings. It’s a very complex jigsaw puzzle.”
On his relationship with Scorsese, the actor told Channel 4 News there is always “more to learn” from the cult director.
He said: “The sheer nature of working with somebody who has that wealth of knowledge, who brings that to set every day…
“But he shares that with you. There’s a pre-production process when he says ‘these are my reference points’ and it’s almost like he’s accessing his own dreams. I learn something every time I work with him, absolutely.”
Leonardo grew up in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles. So is he a “movie kid”?
“It wasn’t until I obsessively watched movies.
“I love watching movies, I appreciate it as an art form. Cinema has to catch up with painting, dancing, but a tremendous amount has been done.
“That’s what I’ve learnt from Martin – the more he watches, the more he can redefine himself.”
“It [Los Angeles] is the mecca of moving-making… but even though I’m an Los Angeles native, I didn’t grow up in the world of cinema.
“I was detached from it, I just happened to live in LA and wanted to do this as a profession. I remember one of my earlies memories was that I wanted to be an actor.
“We came from a lower-middle class background, if I’d lived anywhere else and didn’t have the opportunity to go to auditions after school, I probably wouldn’t be here.
“It’s through sheer luck – the reason I’m here is through a series of lucky events.”
Rumours have been linking DiCaprio with another major historical project by Mel Gibson, based on the Vikings. Gibson is reportedly planning to write the script in the language spoken by the ancient warriors.
The nearest modern language is Icelandic. So is Leo about to learn his lines in Old Norse?
DiCaprio confirmed the rumours, but said nothing is concrete yet: “We don’t know what the language is yet.
“He [Mel Gibson] is developing a script right now… I hope it gets made because he is able to teleport into histrorical time periods unlike most directors I’ve seen.
“He is amazing at that. There are moments in Apocalypto when you really feel like you’re on top of that pyramid watching a human sacrifice… he’s like a historian in that way.
“I hope that movie gets made and I hope I get to do it.”