DiCaprio Allnighter

The Wolf of Wall Street

Martin Scorsese's black comedy about the manipulation of the stocks in Wallstreet in the the 1980s provides Leo DiCaprio with the perfect possibility to let lose as an actor in this alcohol and drug fused frenzy of a film that will leave you feeling as if you have just gone through what the characters have put themselves through. With standout performances from Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill and Matthew McConaughey, this star-studded film gives an insight into the workings of corporate America at that time, and remains one of DiCaprio's most ambitious and spellbinding performances.

Dominic Lam

The Great Gatsby

Baz Luhrman’s visually indulgent reimagining of the influential American author F.Scott Fitzgerald’s most famous novel is a feast for the eyes, capturing the rich decadence of the 20s. The narrative begins with our narrator Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) moving to New York during the economic boom of the 20s, hopeful to cash in on Wall Street’s fast flowing money and opportunities. Nick moves next door to a great fairy-tale mansion, whose endless turrets and their charmingly cool owner both carry an elusive grandeur. However as we are shown further into Nick’s cousin Daisy(Carey Mulligan) and her husband Tom’s (Joel Edgerton) fragile relationship, the sophistication of the city soon gives way to a desperate loneliness as the film slips into a frantic tragedy of carelessness; the insecurity of the American dream bursting through the vibrant façade of frivolity.

Luhrman portrays the excess of the decade throughout the film by using wide grand bright sets, richly decadent colourful costumes and un upbeat soundtrack to capture both Gatbsy’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) and the society’s wild party atmosphere and fantastic wealth. Scenes streaming with glitter, feathers, champagne, sequins and confetti dance across the screen, however their ephemeral nature forces the dreams that latch upon them to crumble as the film progresses. A pervading loneliness sets in, reflected by the darker colours of the films denouement, as the flowers wilt upon autumn’s approach.

Although “all the bright precious things fade so fast” as Daisy puts it, Luhrman does a wonderful job of capturing their fleeting beauty in a grand excessive picture, revealing to us the emptiness of such decadence as the film progresses.

Alice Saunders

The Departed

In South Boston, the state police are waging a war on Irish-American organized crime. A young and ambitious undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by the brutal and psychotic gangland chief Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit which is tasked with bringing down his paymasters. Both men become deeply consumed by their double lives but when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there is a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy - and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save their own skin. This brutally brilliant depiction of the sinister and violent nature of organised crime in one of America’s major cities is totally engrossing. Full of twists and turns, you will be hooked from the very beginning to the very end as characters vie for supremacy and seek revenge in perhaps Scorsese’s best ever film. Though films like The Godfather and Scarface have got more of the plaudits, as mob films go The Departed is about as good as it gets. Utterly brilliant.

Hamish Brown

Catch Me If You Can

‘Catch Me If you Can’ is based on the true story of the con artist Frank Abagnale Jr, as portrayed by a very young Leonardo DiCaprio. The film follows Frank who, before he had reached the tender age of 19, had managed to successfully con millions of dollars from unsuspecting people all over the world by masquerading as, amongst other things, a doctor, teacher, lawyer and even a Pan American pilot in order to try and get his parents to repair their broken marriage and prove himself to his father. What follows is terrific and exciting cat and mouse chase between Frank and the relentless FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) who is trying to catch this illusive and resourceful young man in order to bring him to justice for his crimes. In the process of tracking Frank, a peculiar friendship develops between these two very different men which eventually leads to a remarkable and truly unique relationship. Genuinely, one of the most entertaining films you will ever see, this fast-paced and light hearted movie shows just how much you can achieve with hardwork, perseverance, unerring confidence (as well as a highly questionable sense of morality!). in my mind one of DiCaprio’s best ever films – one you do not want to miss.

Hamish Brown

Inception

Christopher Nolan’s intricate, iconic film Inception follows the attempt of Dominik Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his colleague Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to implant an idea (“inception”) in the mind of the heir of an important business by interfering with his subconscious through his dreams, with the aid of a chemist (Dileep Rao), a conman (Tom Hardy) and a young architect (Ellen Page).

Inception cannot be explained: every piece of the jigsaw is carefully revealed and clarified as the movie progresses and the viewers cannot wrap their heads around the big picture unless each piece has been acknowledged and understood first.

Nolan meticulously guides the audience through every step needed to fully grasp the concepts the movie applies and manipulates, so that the attention is captured all the way to the last minute and that, even after the end, the film cannot abandon one’s mind.

The picture unfolds as action sequences intertwine with emotionally engaging ones, dragging the audience on a rollercoaster of feelings, oscillating from moments of tension and adrenaline, to scenes of sympathy and reflectiveness.

Easily identifiable as Nolan’s most ambitious movie to date, it has no striking similarities with any other film; Inception, in its uniqueness, stands out as one of the most audacious and successful experiments in cinema history.

Marta Meazza