Leonardo DiCaprio is opening up about how he found a “cinematic father figure” in Martin Scorsese.
The longtime collaborators most recently reunited for 1920s period piece “Killers of the Flower Moon,” with Robert De Niro co-starring. DiCaprio told Entertainment Tonight that both Scorsese and De Niro are the “great duo” his generation looks up to.
“It’s hard to articulate in a short time other than saying he’s been very much a cinematic father figure to me, much like Mr. De Niro has,” DiCaprio said. “I’ve looked up to them as the great duo of my generation as far as cinematic achievements are concerned. All of my actor friends and I have just studied their work and their films together, so to be able to do six films now with Marty and then 30 years later, after my first starring role, getting to do a collaboration with the three of them was kind of mind-blowing.”
DiCaprio added of Scorsese, “As far as Marty is concerned, what can one even say about him besides the fact he’s truly a national treasure. And he’s still continuing to make daring, independent films even though they’re massive in budget. He is a seminal artist of this entire era of cinematic history, and I can’t begin to articulate how much I’ve learned from him.”
Scorsese exclusively told IndieWire’s Anne Thompson that DiCaprio’s approach to acting is akin to Cary Grant and Marlon Brando.
“You have the elements that Leo DiCaprio brings with him from all the other pictures, in terms of the allure of the movie star,” Scorsese said of DiCaprio’s performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” “But, he is a great actor, so he wasn’t afraid to move ahead that way. Sometimes I have to say, ‘Hey, that’s too much’ with this or that. But we narrowed it down. I had people around saying, ‘It’s a little too obvious and trying for something to break the image,’ but he looks pretty good for the character. And also his charm still comes through.”
Scorsese continued, “At times, we find that Leo is younger, and his energy goes flying. And Bob and I are older. So we wait until he calms down a bit. And then I give my opinion and Bob gives his, and I give mine from both. It deals with a lot of patience and trust.”
