Edward Norton vs. Leonardo DiCaprio

Dana Walker2 said:Look, I only mentioned the Oscar as one example. Sure, awards are a yardstick for quality, just like any other trophy someone’s picked up. But like someone else pointed out earlier, instead of using them as the ultimate measure, we should probably look at the actual critiques from people working in the industry... And honestly, nobody’s claiming DDL is the greatest actor to ever walk the earth; we're just saying he's one of the greats. You seem to be moving the goalposts on me. First, you say he isn't even among the greats, then after a few critiques, you're comparing him to Al Pacino, and now you're saying he isn't the best ever and doesn't stack up to Marlon Brando? Who's actually judging who here? Seriously?

I really can't make myself any clearer than this. The legends are Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, and yeah, even Laurence Olivier, who many consider the absolute GOAT. To me, he just doesn't fit in that circle. That's my take. Maybe I'm wrong to say DDL isn't in that tier, but I'll leave that to the real experts.

Btw, someone mentioned that Olivier was an inspiration for DDL. I haven't seen anything anywhere suggesting they're linked like that. Does anyone have a link or something?

I simply pointed out that we're talking about him, while some others who aren't much better get far more attention. He’s had some truly incredible roles.

electricridge6, you've finally admitted this is just your subjective take, which makes it completely irrelevant to the actual debate. You went after someone else there, and frankly, I have no interest in personal opinions. Remam hit the nail on the head; there's nothing left to say.

Joseph Edwards4 said:Look, what defines quality? Awards, critical acclaim, the consensus of industry experts—that’s how you get an objective measure. I'm not saying it's just about the Oscars, but when the heavy hitters in the business all agree, that's as expert and objective as it gets. It works that way in every profession.

What you're doing now is just giving me your subjective take because you're a fan of Marlon Brando. Hey, no judgment, but that's not objectivity. That's actually the whole problem with being objective—once you have a crush on a certain actor, you lose that neutrality. We have to stick to the facts, and the facts are the opinions of the people who actually run the industry. That's the only thing that matters, just like any other field.

Honestly, there's no point dragging this debate out further. Going over every single relevant fact is one of the biggest DDLs out there. Personal feelings and biases are a completely different conversation.

Who said I love Marlon Brando? 😁 The guy is a legend, sure, 🙏 but I still prefer Edward Norton.🍿

DDL is fantastic, there’s no debate there, and it definitely holds its own against the films mentioned above. But claiming he’s already surpassed Al Pacino? I think you guys are getting a little ahead of yourselves.

Man, I’m really catching heat now. Just sharing my two cents like everyone else here. If someone can actually drop a link proving that DDL and Laurence Olivier are even in the same league, then fine, I'll admit I'm wrong.

That was way too heavy-handed, honestly. She asked for an opinion, but Remam shut the whole debate down. Remam won the argument, period. Here’s the link to his post if you want to see for yourself.

I mean, who can actually top this? The emotional range is insane, and the lead actor nails it all in under thirty seconds. Pure class.

bluenomad2 said:I’m also sitting here wondering what they're even talking about 🤷—seriously, let’s not lump massive blockbusters in with actual cinema. To me, TWBB stands far above any single film from Leo. Even his last turn as the Mohican was better directed than anything else in his filmography. Then you have DDL, who exists in a completely different stratosphere—true elite tier. After him, you've got guys like Norton and the rest. And then there are the "solid" actors like Leo, who mostly lean on those big hits where you don't actually need to tap into any real emotional depth. Give me some real drama, for God's sake. Even in Revolutionary Road, Kate Winslet absolutely outclassed him.

Shannon also basically ran circles around him. He didn't show even a hint of emotion during those table scenes where the dialogue starts hitting home.

Joseph Edwards4 said:Calling her "too serious" was probably a bit much lol, but she was just asking for an opinion, and bluenomad2 already shut down the debate. bluenomad2 ended the argument—all I can say is check out the link to his post.

But honestly, who can beat this? The emotional range is massive and the lead actor nails it all in like 30 seconds. Absolute top tier.

Ahahahhahhah < 🤣🤣

electricridge6 said:I couldn't be clearer. The heavyweights are Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Jack Nicholson—not to mention Laurence Olivier, who is arguably the greatest ever. He doesn't belong in that group in my eyes. That's just my take. Maybe I'm wrong to say DDL isn't among the greats, but I'll leave that to the experts.

Btw, someone mentioned Olivier was a role model for DDL. I haven't seen anything suggesting they're linked like that. Anyone got a link or something?

In an interview from at least ten years ago. He talked about Olivier, Brando, and another influence of his, Charles Laughton. I'll try to track it down and post it, but remind me if I forget.

Read this http://reflectionandchoice.org/2013/...for-our-times/ 😉

Thanks for the link 🙂
But honestly, this is just some journalist's take, right? I'm looking for a professional opinion here. The one thing I can't get behind with DDL is his whole "Method" thing. Personally, I don't think you need to go to such extreme lengths just to play a part. Is it really necessary? To me, it feels like overkill. I usually aim for a bit more balance, so that kind of stuff just doesn't sit right with me.

Sure, but if you actually look at his filmography—aside from the New York gang movies—you’ll see he mostly plays characters that feel true to life. In My Left Foot, he captured the essence of who that man really was. Christy Brown was exactly like that. I don't see any exaggeration there. An extreme would be if he played someone completely different from the real person the movie is based on. Same with Abraham Lincoln, at least based on what we know from the historical records.

bluenomad2 said:electricridge6, I think you’re genuinely off base here. Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino are so deeply etched into our collective subconscious that we assume no one else can touch them—and you're right, there are really only two others. Olivier and DDL. Now, Laurence Olivier never made headlines for being difficult, nor did he chase the kind of massive blockbusters that someone like Boogie or James Cagney might have leaned into—though those films were excellent regardless. But ask any acting coach out there—the ones who actually know what they're talking about—and they'll tell you Olivier was the gold standard of classic Hollywood. Some even claim he's the greatest to ever do it. As for DDL, he’s essentially Olivier's spiritual successor; he learned everything from him. Those two belong right alongside Brando, Nicholson, De Niro, and Pacino. That gives us a group of six—the absolute elite. It doesn't matter which of the six sits at the top; in my humble opinion, they represent the pinnacle of cinema history. I’d probably throw Max von Sydow into the mix too, though that’s just my personal bias creeping in—but as far as that core six goes, I stand by it.

I caught him in Three Days of the Condor (1975) yesterday. At first, I didn't even recognize him—he was so perfectly immersed in pollackov's style that nothing felt forced or amateurish.

So, how did you handle Derek's rage? I recall you mentioning you didn't feel any real need to dig up or mess around with that kind of anger inside yourself, so how did you actually tap into it?

I don't usually have luck pulling directly from my own emotional reservoir. Sure, sometimes a bit of what you've lived through can flare up, but for me, it’s way more about the imagination. Many People Project onto actors The idea that They must be finding a particular emotion within themselves - fra their own Deep well - in The sense of The Method as taught by Lee Strasberg. I’ve never really bought into that, nor have I ever found it helpful. I’ve always been a believer in Stella Adler's idea that an actor's biggest asset is their imagination. For me, the most effective move is to throw myself into the situation by leaning on my instincts or my knack for empathy (if you can call it that) when it comes to reading how people show what they're feeling. It's an almost clinical ability to observe those emotions—just soaking them up like a sponge and then recreating them. I find that approach works Best for me and is more in sync with The kind of roles i Want to pursue.

Interview quote from Norton.

The bolded part right there is exactly what I mean when I say Method acting is just overacting!

bluenomad2 said:Yeah, but if you actually look at his roles—aside from those New York bands—you'll see they’re all pretty spot-on. In My Left Foot, he played that guy exactly how he was in real life. Christy Brown really was like that. I don't see anything extreme about it. An extreme move would be if he went totally off the rails and played someone completely different from the real person the movie is based on. Same thing with Lincoln, at least based on what we know about Lincoln from the historical records.

From what I know, DDL has done a few Method roles before.🤔

vivideagle7 said:What do you mean Russell Crowe? He’s just an average actor. Sure, he had some decent turns in things like Romper stoper or Insider, but nothing groundbreaking. Just middle of the road.

To my brilliant mind, he is absolutely GENIUS.

electricridge6 said:Thanks for the link, 🙂
But this is just some journalist's opinion and commentary; I’m looking for actual professional insight. My one real gripe with DDL is his commitment to being a method actor. Personally, I don't think you need to descend into total extremes just to play a part. To me, it feels like overkill. I usually aim for balance, so this kind of stuff just rubs me the wrong way.

As far as I'm aware, Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro are method actors.

Noah Roberts46 said:As far as I know, Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro are method actors.

Totally. But honestly, Brando basically redefined the whole concept, which is clearly why De Niro follows that path. I just don't see that same vibe from DDL.

electricridge6 said:See, this bolded part right here? This is exactly what I mean when I say Method acting is just plain overacting!

Nah. Doesn't matter. What matters is what actually ends up on the screen.

DDL would deliver a top-tier performance even without leaning into Method acting, simply because he’s such a naturally gifted actor, but clearly, he’s chasing that absolute perfection. Take DiCaprio, for example—he was pretty rough in The Revenant, so I don't buy his process at all; you can just tell he's trying way too hard.

It really doesn't matter if someone spends five years prepping for a role or just an hour. The technique used is secondary to whether the performance actually lands. Nicholson could nail a role with almost no prep, while DDL might spend years getting ready, yet both come out with incredible results. Both feel authentic and believable to me, and that's the only thing that counts—not the specific way they prepared behind the scenes.

In my book, DDL is one of the most talented actors to ever do it, and hands down one of the best we've seen in the last 30 years. He's already sitting among the greats. He might not be my number one of all time, but he’s definitely in that top tier of 7 or 8 legends.

For me, it’s all about the final result and the process they used to get there. If you go into a movie thinking DiCaprio is trying too hard, then you're just going to judge him based on his technique. Honestly, DDL might be the greatest Method actor to ever do it.

Nah, I don't know... looking at the screen, it feels like he's trying way too hard with the acting. Just too many over-the-top facial expressions.