By: Nick Gambino
This past Sunday 34 million viewers tuned in to the Academy Awards to see Leonardo 
DiCaprio win his much-deserved and ever elusive Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Revenant.
The 41-year old actor is easily the best to do it in the last 20 years. This is not opinion, this is internet fact, proven by the hordes of memes and GIFs begging someone to please give Leo his Oscar already. Even College Humor got in on the action.
It’s been a long time coming with Leo scoring his first Oscar nod in 1994 for playing a kid who’s developmentally disabled in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He lost that year to Tommy Lee Jones and his role in The Fugitive.
His loss that year would be his first but not his last. Though it would take another 11 years before he’d receive another nomination from the Academy, Leo continued to turn in strong performances.
In 2005 his efforts were acknowledged once again with an Oscar nod for his complex
portrayal of Howard Hughes in The Aviator. He lost that night to Jaime Foxx who killed it as Ray Charles in Ray.
That loss was forgivable as Foxx was truly incredible as the late musician. So we let it slide.
Two years later Leo found himself on the receiving end of another nomination from the Academy for his knock-it-outta-the-park performance as the South African, Danny Archer. That could’ve been the worse movie in the world (on the contrary, it’s amazing) and Leo still would’ve deserved a nod if not for his performance then for his accent. Talk about nailing a dialect!
But alas, it was not to be. Forest Whitaker took home the Best Actor award for The Last King of Scotland.
Again, it’s kind of hard to get mad because as before, he lost to another solid performer. But still, it’s starting to sting a little.
Now, let’s fast forward seven years to his next nomination for The Wolf of Wall Street. His portrayal of excessive, out-of-his-freaking-mind, stock-broker Jordan Belfort was one for the history books (or movies.) I know some can’t stomach the debauchery and excess of this movie but Leo’s performance is the work of a master thespian. For proof just check out his Quaalude episode scene.
Now, I was positive he was going to win this time around but…well, congrats Matthew McConaughey. You deserve it too I guess.
By this point, the internet is going nuts. The general consensus is, “How has this guy not won an Oscar yet?! Every performance is gold. Just give him one already.”
It’s not just the losses, it’s the lack of nominations. Sure he’s been nominated 5 times as 
an Actor but there were easily 10 to15 worthy of the same. Forget great roles like Jack in Titanic or Romeo in Romeo + Juliet. How about Jim Carroll in The Basketball Diaries, Amsterdam Vallon in Gangs of New York, Frank Abagnale in Catch Me If You Can, Billy in The Departed, Calvin Candie in Django Unchained…need I go on? Revolutionary Road, Shutter Island, Inception…ok I’ll stop.
But kudos to the Academy for finally giving him a little gold man for The Revenant, though I think of that one award as acknowledging all his past iconic performances.
Congratulations, Leo. You’re the King of the World!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.
Appreciating the persistence you put into your site and in depth information you present.
It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material.
Excellent read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my
Google account.
Nice post.
Great article! We will be linking to your content on our website.
Hello there, just became aware about your blog through Google,
and found that it’s truly informative. I’m likely
to be aware of brussels. I am going to be grateful in the event you continue this
from now on. A great deal of men and women will be taken advantage of
your writing. Cheers!
bookmarked!! I really like your online site!
Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a
sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Hello my friend! I desire to claim that this article is awesome,
nice written and feature almost all significant infos.
I would personally like to check more posts this way
.
Appreciating the time and energy you put into your website and detailed information you provide.
It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material.
Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my
Google account.
What’s up everyone, it’s my first pay a quick visit at this website,
and paragraph is really fruitful designed for me, keep up
posting these types of articles or reviews.
I feel that is one of the a whole lot important info
to me. And i am happy reading your article. But wish
to remark on few general things, The website taste is perfect, the articles is actually great : D.
Good process, cheers
What’s up, just planned to inform you, I loved this blog post.
It had been helpful. Keep on posting!
Hi could you mind sharing which blog platform you’re
working with? I’m going to start out my own, personal blog
in the future but I’m using a difficult time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and
Drupal. The reason I ask is really because your design and design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I were required to ask!
Thanks for any other magnificent article. The place else may anybody get that kind of information in such an ideal way
of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I’m on the look for such info.
What’s up mates, nice paragraph and good urging commented here, I am truly enjoying by these.
I love looking through a post that will make individuals think.
Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment!
Unquestionably imagine that you said. Your favourite justification seemed
to be at the internet the easiest factor to consider of.
I only say to you personally, I certainly get annoyed while folks take into consideration issues that they
just don’t know about. You managed going to the nail upon the very best as smartly as outlined
out everything with no need complication ,
people could go on a signal. Will likely be again to get additional.
Thanks
I see many interesting articles here. Your site can go viral
easily, you need some initial traffic only. How to get initial traffic???
Search for: Jemensso’s tricks
Hello! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice
from an established blog. Is it very difficult to set up your
own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast.
I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure
where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks
magnificent post, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts with this sector usually do not understand
this. You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you might have an excellent readers’ base already!
This site truly has all of the info I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know
who to ask.
Howdy great blog! Does running a blog like this require a great deal of
work? I have absolutely no understanding of computer programming however I was hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, should you have any recommendations or tips for new
blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject but I simply had to ask.
Kudos!