MovieChat Forums > The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) Discussion > I Liked Everything About This Film EXCEP...

I Liked Everything About This Film EXCEPT Leo

posted 11 years ago by country_woman
9 replies | jump to latest

Why did they cast him? That's a no-brainer. In 1997, Leonardo Di Caprio was the biggest thing since holes in bagels. H'wood is a business. You went to Leo for any part in this age range for a guy.

But I think he stunk. He's the weak link in this chain, he stands out like a sore thumb. His little boy California accent....his inability to play anything other than a squeaky-voiced 20th century American. Leo's not an actor, he's a boy-bot.

I've read that he and Christian Bale had something of a rivalry at this stage. I don't think so. Leo won, hands down, so Bale went back to England and made a string of movies, some bad, some interesting. He honed his chops as an actor. He'd have been better in this part than Leo.

Now look at the two. I say Bale is ahead, both personally and professionally.

[–] jttrbglv 11 years ago

Hilarious and accurate observation! I must say I didn't think much of Bale though until I saw American Psycho.

c ' e s t l a v i e

[–] TheFallenProdigy 11 years ago

I disliked most things in this film except leo, each to their own i guess.

I don't care what anyone says, Rocky 5 is good!

[–] zannesuz 11 years ago

I agree, its not his best work, but he has grown a lot - blood diamond? The departed? Unbelievable he is the same actor as in this movie.

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 10 years ago

I think Bale was an exceptional actor since he was a child, been a fan of his ever since I saw Empire of the Sun. Leo otoh, I'm not too fond of, I have to agree with the OP, he was the weakest link in this film.

Global Warming, it's a personal decision innit? - Nigel Tufnel

[–] Stewart46217 10 years ago

Dumb country woman. Are you honestly that thick or are you having us on. DiCaprio is the greatest actor of his generation as far as fans, critics and his peers and colleges in the business are concerned.
The only good thing about this movie was Leonardo DiCaprio. other than that the movie was not the best.
Bale was never a rival for DiCaprio. Leo towered over him in sheer talent, power and audience base.
Bale ahead. Yeah, right.
Go back to sleep country woman.

[–] Stewart46217 10 years ago

Why did they cast him? That's a no-brainer. In 1997, Leonardo Di Caprio was the biggest thing since holes in bagels. H'wood is a business. You went to Leo for any part in this age range for a guy. [/i]

He still is. Live with it. You don't get this far without talent and he has it in spades.

But I think he stunk. He's the weak link in this chain, he stands out like a sore thumb. His little boy California accent....his inability to play anything other than a squeaky-voiced 20th century American. Leo's not an actor, he's a boy-bot.

Oh yeah, sure. That would explain Blood Diamond, Django Unchained, Body of Lies, Departed, Aviator, Wolf of Wall Street, Gilbert Grape, Basketball Diaries.

I've read that he and Christian Bale had something of a rivalry at this stage. I don't think so. Leo won, hands down, so Bale went back to England and made a string of movies, some bad, some interesting. He honed his chops as an actor. He'd have been better in this part than Leo.

I doubt it

Now look at the two. I say Bale is ahead, both personally and professionally.

Keep telling yourself that. In any case as of typing the last 3 movies DiCaprio has been in WOWS, Django and Gatsby, have been the most commercially successful of there respective directors careers while Leo has beaten Bale hands down for awards and critical recognition. Although neither won the Oscar Leo further ahead than Bale who was least favourite while Leo was in the top 2.

[–] foresthandknits 9 years ago

I have to SSSOOOO agree. The rest of the cast (and the film) are totally stellar but what were they thinking when they cast LdeC??? His American accent grates every time he opens his mouth and he is just so wrong as Louis XIV. The voice coach needs lynching too as he can't even pronounce most of the names correctly (but then Americans always have their own bizarre pronunciations!!)

[–] Darthmauler_megaa 9 years ago

The American accent is kinda painful, lol, but that's not the only problem. DiCaprio's performance was just too one note, and I mainly blame the writing for this.

Like, the scene where the twins are together for the first time. DiCaprio's Louis has complete contempt for his brother and nothing else. It's just too flat and obvious. Louis is too much of an unsympathetic monster, to the point where it's a caricature. It's just spoon fed to the audience, "He's eeeevvvvil!" And we're never particularly told why he's evil. Especially with seemingly moral guardians like D'Artagnan and Queen Anne. It just seems to be, "he's a spoiled rich kid, therefore he must be evil. Duh."

Compare that to Louis Hayward's version in 1939, where the twins are told they're related for the first time. Louis seems to recognize the poignancy of the moment, but he's too embarrassed by this potential weakness to let his guard down. This makes sense, as we know part of the reason for his evil is the corrupting influence of his opportunistic tutor. You almost believe that if things had been different, he and Philippe could have been close.

And then in both versions, Queen Anne arrives on the scene to defend Philippe. DiCaprio's Louis proceeds to scream and tell her he never loved her. Jeez man, lol. It's just so over the top nasty and goofy. Whereas Hayward's Louis responds to his mother with a calm, wry comment; the kind that delights him, and terrifies everyone else in the room. Again, it's just a more nuanced script and performance.

"He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy! Now, piss off!" - Free speech forever! :)

[–] whitespirit26 9 years ago

Wrong on all counts, he was amazing as such different characters. Watch another film. And gee clear, how'd you expect him to react? He had never known Philippe before and had no reason to express any sentimentality, plus was very upset with his mother. I didn't see his attitude towards Philippe as contempt, but cold rage that erupted when his mother ran to him. Remember, he put Philippe in prison himself because he feared exactly what happened that night, and it was obvious they were both related, so there wasn't really any room for a sentimental moment, though I would have loved to see something like that at a different time. But your observation about the older film is exactly what I imagined to be the truth for the twins in this one too if they'd grown up together.