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Why DiCaprio acts like asshole to James Cameron?

posted 2 years ago by sonans (1217)
24 replies | jump to latest

I read the Masterclass from James Cameron, in the text book Cameron wrote:

James remembers of DiCaprio’s objection to reading the script during an audition. “I said, ‘You’re 19. You read.’ ” However, after persuading him to perform a scene with Kate Winslet (on the provision that it not be filmed), James was blown away.

Refuse to read? Make a "provision" not be filmed for doing a screen test?

And When Titanic won all the Oscars, he didn't even bother to attend.

I used to like Leo, but he acts like asshole.

[–] maul (1533) 2 years ago

Wouldn't surprise me at all, seems like someone who's never been checked, and his ego has probably just continued to bloat out of control. He should have been bowing at Cameron's feet - dude is a true legend, something Leo will never be.

[–] raymondoz2007 (2047) 7 months ago

Cameron is a racist

[–] mechajutaro (2788) 2 years ago

An actor, who's a pompous ass?!! The world's has never heard of such a thing till today. At this rate, we'll soon be receiving word of a politician who's been diagnosed as a malignant narcissist

[–] mirelurk (884) 2 years ago

As if James Cameron isn't known for being a huge asshole to people who are below him on the totem pole? At least DiCaprio was punching up

[–] Ticketsplease (4024) 2 years ago

I know some stars find it beneath them to read for an audition. They can say "haven't you seen my work?"

But it's important to work out chemistry between actors.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6931) 2 years ago

I won't hold anything DiCaprio did at 19 against him. It's no secret he had an ego as a young actor, especially due to his enormous fame, but from what I can tell, very few people still have beef with him today and it's not really anything to do with him personally. For example, Jack Black hates the fact he's always up for an Oscar despite, to paraphrase, his subpar performances, which means someone better is out of the running. Nothing to do with DiCaprio as a person.

[–] Wuchak (8124) 2 years ago

It's no secret he had an ego as a young actor, especially due to his enormous fame

From what? This thread is talking about his audition for "Titanic." What made him so famous before that? A side character on Growing Pains for a couple of years? His role in "The Quick and the Dead"? I guess "Romeo + Juliet" was a hit, but I've never seen it. In other words, nothing to get too pompous over.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6931) 2 years ago

Romeo+Juliet was massive, and a lot of women and girls were throwing themselves at him after that. Almost every teen girl I knew had a poster of Leo in their bedroom after that, it catapulted him into teen heartthrob status instantly. And Basketball Diaries and What's Eating Gilbert Grape were a pretty big deal, too, from what I remember.

[–] JFZ (1459) 7 months ago

He was a big deal. He had a huge teen following and starred in many films, including being the main character. Titantic didn't make him, it just made him even bigger.

[–] sonans (1217) 2 years ago

I believe Leo must hold some grudge to Cameron to this day, I remember Cameron made a speech when Avatar won Golden Globe, everybody clap, but Leo didn't, even the camera is on him!

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6931) 2 years ago

It's possible, not everyone can get along. I'd like to know what that beef is.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (12327) 2 years ago

Um, to be fair, James Cameron [on his off days] is a world-class asshole too.

[–] davodikum (5971) 2 years ago

If ya can't be an asshole on ya day off, when can you be? Day on, iguess.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (12327) 2 years ago

In behind-the-scenes interviews, the cast of "Avatar" said that two different James Cameron's would show up to work on the set any given day. They called the nice one "Jim," and the mean one "Mij," and I have a feeling "Mij" showed up more often than "Jim" did.

I'm not saying he's 100% a horrible person. The man has made some amazing movies, and was a brilliant story-teller. But he was also a perfectionist and could be a total jerk when he didn't get what he wanted.

[–] MavKilledGoose (779) 2 years ago

I've heard about Cameron being an asshole, but I can't think of a specific instance. I can think of a specific instance when he seemed like a decent person, and that was paying the million dollar ransom for Guillermo del Toro's kidnapped father.

[–] PaladinNJ (20311) 7 months ago

I think he didn’t attend because HE wasn’t nominated

[–] sonans (1217) 7 months ago

That is not true.

When a movie got nominated in best picture, Oscars will invite all the major stars. Kathy Bates attend Oscars, but she didn't get nominated. You can check best picture winners on Youtube, when they won, all the major casts will go on stage with or without being nominated.

It's very disrespectful for a leading actor to not attend Oscars.

[–] PaladinNJ (20311) 7 months ago

He didn't attend the Oscars the year Titanic was nominated.

[–] sonans (1217) 7 months ago

That is what I said: Leo was disrespectful.

[–] Otter (24464) 7 months ago

Oh, I think both are assholes with massive egos, but both have the sense to keep the assholery from completely derailing their careers. DiCaprio works with directors he likes, at this point he knows that on a Scorcese set everything will be go the way he wants it to go, so he won't have to be an asshole there. Well not much. And Cameron hires actors and crew who can put up with him being a difficult perfectionist, which is presumably why DiCaprio hasn't come back.

And neither of their careers has been derailed by scandal, even though they are, as I said, assholes with massive egos! I mean Cameron has been divorced six or seven times, with no real scandal - that's impressive! You'd think all the smaller-time assholes of Hollywood would learn from their example, but they don't. Because setting up your life to allow for an acceptable level of assholery requires enough self-awareness to know that you are in fact an asshole, and enough awareness of social norms to know that being an asshole is problem under normal circumstances. And that's what the B-listers refuse to learn.

[–] TimeTunnel (4632) 7 months ago

Well, I still don't understand, why DiCaprio is an asshole.
Of course I don't know him personally, just saw many interviews with him.
He's confident, but self-confidence alone doesn't make someone an asshole.
He was always polite and nice to the interviewers, even if they were young and/or dumb.

[–] Otter (24464) 7 months ago

I don't understand what you're saying. Are asking *why* DiCaprio is an asshole, or are you asking *whether* he's an asshole at all?

I expect he actually is an asshole, just because he's in a position where he's free to be an asshole without consequences. Given the freedom to be a complete dick most people will go ahead, and from there most will assume that all bets are off and they can do what they like, and that's where people get into trouble. So if I'm right and Leo is a raging NPD-case asshole, then at least he's smart enough about it to avoid scandal and bad press.

[–] TimeTunnel (4632) 7 months ago

NPD = Narcissistic personality disorder?
Hmm, hmm...I don't think so.
But ok, thanks for your explanation.

[–] Otter (24464) 7 months ago

Yeah, this is just me speculating.

And yes, NPD = Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and I've read enough Hollywood biographies to think that it's very common among top actors. Acting is a field where a raging case of NPD is actually an advantage.