Leonardo DiCaprio Addresses ‘Wolf’ Controversy: ‘We’re Not Condoning This Behavior’

variety.com ^ | Tim Gray

[SoFloFreeper]

No year-end film has stirred up as much talk as Paramount’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” which looks at American greed and excesses. The three-hour film has earned $34 million since it opened Christmas Day, with supporters embracing its originality and daring, but some fretting that the film celebrates the self-obsessed lifestyle of convicted con man Jordan Belfort. In an interview with Variety, Leonardo DiCaprio, a producer and star of the pic, talked about the challenges and rewards of making a film that is “outside the box” in its subject matter and approach. Here are excerpts of the interview, with more to come in the Jan. 6 issue of weekly Variety.

[SoFloFreeper]

One doesn't have to see the film...just watch the previews and you'll get a taste about what the controversy is regarding....or read Rex Reed's review of the film (he loved it).

Here is how the film begins, according to Reed:

"The movie opens with a naked Mr. DiCaprio snorting cocaine from the graphic spaces between a hooker’s wide-open legs (use your imagination, dude), and we’re off to the races."

Now tell me this isn't glorifying hedonism...it is like saying Al Pacino's "Scarface" doesn't glorify violence because in the end Scarface dies.

Laughable hypocrisy.

[SoFloFreeper]

Oh by the way: many of the Wall Street clowns being glorified in this film are, basically CRONY CAPITALISTS who are DEMOCRAT PARTY SUPPORTERS.

[Huskrrrr]

“...looks at American greed and excesses.”

None of that in Hollywood.

[SkyDancer]

And yet another true story out of Hollyweird.

[tsowellfan]

I always check this list before I watch a movie

http://www.hollywoodrepublican.net/who-is-a-republican/

[GeronL]

That one line tells me enough to know I don’t ever want to see the movie

[CaptainK]

There isn't anything going on in Wall Street that hasn't been happening in Hollywood since the 1920s.

[cincinnati65]

It will be just like Wall Street. Gordon Gekko was supposed to be portrayed as a hideously, repulsive villain, but ended up being emulated by a generation.

[SunkenCiv]

> The three-hour film has earned $34 million since it opened Christmas Day

IOW, it’s had middling success. Thanks SoFloFreeper.

[Qbert]

Well, good for him attacking the excesses of greed and hedonism. It’s too bad we have people like... Leonardo DiCaprio (Net worth $200M), who selfishly hoard cash instead of helping the poor, and treat women like mere playthings...

[Tax-chick]

He means they’re not condoning making money through securities investment. Using cocaine and prostitutes is entirely acceptable.

[tophat9000]

Funny that would show a Hollywood “open “ lifestyle as a “capitalist” lifestyle to condemn..sorry but capitalism is using money to make money..its not about blowing money snoring lines off a hookers s...h

[MasterGunner01]

I have really tried hard to give a hoot what Leonardo DiCaprio thinks. I came to the conclusion that, after considering the source, I don’t give a damn.

[DubbleBlubble]

Leonardo DiCandelabra

[unlearner]

“We’re Not Condoning This Behavior”

But we are engaging in it.

[fieldmarshaldj]

That’s not a reliable list.

[kcvl]

Leo's Malibu home

DiCaprio is the highest-paid actor in the world and can command $40 million a movie.

Home "Down Under" while shooting his latest movie has been a five-bedroom, five-bathroom harbourfront mansion in Vaucluse with its own pool, private jetty and luxury cruiser. But after being discovered at the $10,000-a-week rental in his first weeks here, DiCaprio has also taken a complimentary suite at The Star, where he has his own butler, driver, limo and access to the casino's luxury jet.

Leo owns a Fisker Karma, a luxury $100,000 USD hybrid car

[kcvl]

Leo's Beach House

August 16, 2013

We Hear...

...that Leonardo DiCaprio is on the hunt for some new, A-lister style digs. And we are not speaking of his increasingly exhaustive and well documented search in New York City where he's been spotted several times this summer shopping for a pricey pied-a-terre in the 15-30 million dollar range.

It seems he might also like to upgrade his residential circumstances in his home base of Los Angeles where, according to our trusted and well-placed informant, the three time Oscar nominee made an under the radar offer for—buckle your real estate safety belts, multi-billionaire Rupert Murdoch's secluded estate high in the mountains above Beverly Hills.

[discostu]

It’s not glorifying hedonism, the guy’s a douchebag who ruins two of his own families not to mention countless others. And Scarface doesn’t glorify violence, not because he dies in the end but because he’s a scumbag. Thinking these movies glorify their behavior is like thinking Faust glorifies deals with the devil.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I watched Hunger Games and couldn’t help thinking about the party they attend with all it’s attendant weirdness. People throwing up after becoming full so they could eat more delicious food. Meanwhile people back in the main characters home district are starving. I see that and wonder if while making that film, Hollywood realizes they are the weirdoes having the party and the rest of the country is where the main characters come from. It’s us against them (Hollywood and the government). That was the message I got from the Hunger Games.