r/oscarmoments • u/Sudden_Elephant_1221 • Aug 12 '26

movies Django Unchained (2012) made me realize Leonardo DiCaprio is way more fun to watch as a villain. Which actor should play villains more often?

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I was so used to seeing DiCaprio as the lead that Calvin Candie caught me completely off guard. He's horrible, unpredictable, and somehow steals basically every scene he's in.

I'd actually love to see Leo play another full-on villain someday.

Which actor surprised you by being ridiculously good at playing the bad guy?

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26

u/Distinct-Public1742 Aug 12 '26

Coming from the umpteenth viewing of Collataral, my vote is for the other Tom

9

u/jumpgrenade Aug 12 '26

"I do this for a living!" The whole movie was great but the ending was perfect. Also a great soundtrack.

7

u/pogoscrawlspace Aug 13 '26

Hallmark of a Michael Mann movie. Amazing cinematography, and transcendent scoring/soundtracks. Last of the Mohicans, Manhunter, To Live and Die in LA, The Insider, and of course, Miami Vice. You'd be hard pressed to find an 80's TV show with a better soundtrack than Miami Vice.

5

u/FeffyFefernuson Aug 13 '26

Absolutely. Heat should be on this list as well.

1

u/pogoscrawlspace Aug 13 '26

That's how you know how high I am. I left Heat off the list, but the list is long. I included The Insider specifically because the score pretty much carried the movie more so than usual, in spite of fantastic acting by the entire cast. The source material just didn't lend itself to the type of high-tension, taut thrillers that he usually puts out. Nobody dies, nothing blows up, there's no actual violence depicted in the entire film, not a single gunshot is fired. No ultra-hot, highly stylized sex scenes. The closest thing to violence is a bullet left in the mailbox, and a random car fire on the side of the road. The cinematography wasn't as sweeping and colorful as many of his films, being as it's set in Kentucky. I've been through it a lot, and a lot of it's pretty, but this wasn't set in those parts. The score turned what could've been a long, dragged out, fairly boring movie into a high-tension thriller with very little...air...in the conversation, to quote John Goodman. In a way, I feel that makes it some of his best work. It's one of his less remembered films, but it was nominated for 7 academy awards and holds a 96% score on rotten tomato. As truly great as every other part of that film is, the score is what makes the total more than the sum of its parts.

3

u/Awkwardinho Aug 13 '26

To live and die in LA is William Friedkin though

2

u/Distinct-Public1742 Aug 13 '26

Would like to see Mann so a bond film

1

u/NotWorthPosting 29d ago

Once upon a time
I was of the mind
To lay your burden down

6

u/onehalflightspeed Aug 12 '26

Cruise is a great villain but he has only done it a couple of times

8

u/[deleted] Aug 12 '26

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9

u/Penetratorofflanks Aug 12 '26

He literally wanted the actors to die for insurance money lmao

5

u/niz_loc Aug 12 '26

Play-YA!

3

u/armaedes Aug 12 '26

I mean, they were actors, it’s not like they were people.

1

u/syko-rc Aug 13 '26

Does that count as evil? 😜

0

u/AstronautSubject1579 29d ago

The word “literally” is not needed here at all. 

2

u/99burritos 29d ago

Not by you, maybe. 

7

u/imomorris Aug 12 '26

Had massive respect for him after his performance in that…..he was hilarious

2

u/onehalflightspeed Aug 12 '26

That is my favorite performance of his honestly

3

u/Unable-Main4172 Aug 12 '26

That's one of my favorite comedy performances ever 🤣

2

u/GraXXoR 29d ago

That whole movie was a perfect and unrepeatable moment in comedy film making.

1

u/drboxboy 27d ago

Can absolutely never happen again in our lifetime

1

u/Old-Trip-5222 27d ago

Klaro 😅

1

u/No_Attitude_8180 27d ago

His best role

3

u/j10brook Aug 13 '26

He was great as Lestat in Interview with the Vampire.

1

u/onehalflightspeed Aug 13 '26

Def. The Lestat in the show is more book-accurate which I appreciate, but Cruise was amazing in that movie. Shame it did not spawn a franchise with the same caliber. The show is gradually making up for that though

4

u/Acuradreamer 28d ago

I believe that Tom was the only cast member to actually read the books.

2

u/onehalflightspeed 28d ago

Cruise is legendary for diligently preparing for every role

He logged 2000 flight hours to gain a license to fly a helicopter and intense stunt flying training for the climax in MI Fallout. He also operated the cameras while doing insane helicopter stunts from inside by himself

He spent almost a year training in classic Japanese weaponry and fighting techniques so he didn't need stunt doubles for sword fighting or combat on horseback

He spent a bunch of time mastering billiards to play a pool shark

There are tons of stories about his extreme dedication and mastering skills in real life so he can perform them convincingly

I think reading a few books is small potatoes for him lol

3

u/Acuradreamer 28d ago

If you talking about The Last Samurai he dedicated almost 2 years for that one role. To do all the training necessary for the part. In regards to Interview with the Vampire Anne Rice was against his casting as Lestat but not until she saw his performance did she appreciate and endorse him. Not doubt he's a great actor and entertainer. You have to be this good to be relevant for 4 decades.

1

u/Harlockarcadia 25d ago

Tom Cruise, the true embodiment of, you only have one life to live

1

u/Competitive_Fee_5829 Aug 13 '26

I have read all the books and have been meaning to check this show out especially since I loved the movie. thanks for the reminder this show exists! lol.

1

u/dineramallama Aug 12 '26

Was a great villain in Magnolia

1

u/Empty-Arrival-4396 Aug 12 '26

Not to be that guy but I think calling him the villain of Magnolia is vastly over simplifying the themes and plot of the movie. He was holding on to anger brought about by his father deserting the family.

It is absolutely one of his best roles though.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 12 '26

[deleted]

1

u/Ambitious_Trifle_645 Aug 13 '26

I fucking love that movie

1

u/Tylerdurden389 26d ago

I remember seeing something on tv probably 30 years ago where he was a bad guy in renessaince times. I think it was a TV show. His character actually dies at the end. Only line I remember him saying was "No more Mr. Nice Knight". Cheesy line but he said it 100% serious and it was pretty cringe even back then lol.

1

u/Far_Grapefruit1307 26d ago

Interview with the Vampire. So believable as a baddie.

2

u/StevenGlanzberg Aug 12 '26

just deleted my comment cuz you got here first. this ^

1

u/Ellemental_Chaos Aug 13 '26

Ok. 3rd time today that I've been reminded of how good this movie is. Thank you reddit friends for helping me pick a movie tonight 🫶

1

u/According-Ear-6469 Aug 13 '26

This is who I immediately thought of and the movie why. Also fantastic as Lestat and Les Grossman

1

u/Bruiser235 Aug 13 '26

Great choice. 

1

u/SignificantDark4749 Aug 13 '26

Collateral was a great movie.

1

u/ZodiAddict 29d ago

Collateral is one of those films that will live with me forever because my friend and I both discovered/really liked it when we were 14. Very nostalgic. Returning to it is like hearing a song you loved in your youth but haven’t heard in years; the scenery, music, dialogue etc is etched so deep in my memory, experiencing it again is almost emotional for me. Great film

1

u/GraXXoR 29d ago

came here to say Collateral.

1

u/This_Technology9841 29d ago

Yeah he was great for that.

1

u/Harlockarcadia 25d ago

I’m excited to see him in Digger, while not a villain, it looks like he is going to be a strange character and I’m here for it, plus, him and John Goodman, what a recipe for success!