It may have taken him five tries but Leonardo DiCaprio has finally managed to snag an Academy Award for his performance in “The Revenant”.
After a well-deserved standing ovation, DiCaprio proceeded to give a 2-minute speech that was, for lack of a better term, quite epic.
He focused not on himself but on his co-workers and supporters, thanking them for their support and guidance throughout the years – including Mr. Martin Scorsese, whom he credits to teaching him about the cinematic art form.
Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat affecting our entire species. – Leonardo DiCaprio
After giving his thanks, he then proceeds to give what may be one of the most urgent and important speeches on climate change.
“Thank you. Thank you all so very much. Thank you to The Academy. Thank to all of you in this room. I have to congratulate the other incredible nominees this year for their unbelievable performances. The Revenant was a product of the tireless efforts of an unbelievable cast and crew I got to work alongside,” he began.
He then proceeded to thank Tom Hardy:
“First of all to my brother in this Endeavor Mr. Tom Hardy: Tom, your fierce talent on-screen can only be surpassed by your friendship off-screen.”
Then he proceeds to thank Director Alejandro Iñarritu:
“To Mr. Alejandro Iñarritu: As the history of cinema unfolds you have forged your way into history these past two years what an unbelievable talent you are. Thank you and chievo for a transcendent cinematic experience”
He then proceeds to thank the producers as well as his mentors, Martin Scorsese, his parents, and his friends:
“Thank you to everybody in Fox and New Regency … my entire team … from the very onset of my career Mr Catin Jones, Mr Scorsese for teaching me so much about the cinematic art form, Mr Rick Yorn, and to my parents none of this would be possible without you and to my friends”
DiCaprio then asks for a moment to urge the people watching to heed the dangers of climate change:
We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters or the big corporations but who speak for all of humanity – Leonardo DiCaprio
“Making The Revenant was about man’s relationship to the natural world a world that we collectively felt in 2015 as the hottest year in recorded history our production needed to move to the southern tip of the planet just to be able to find snow.
Climate change is real. It is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat affecting our entire species.
We need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating.
We need to support leaders around the world who do not speak for the big polluters or the big corporations but who speak for all of humanity
For the indigenous people of the world for the billions and billions of underprivileged people who will be most affected by this. For our children’s children
And for those people out there whose voices have been drowned out by the politics of greed
I thank you all for this amazing award tonight. Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted.
Thank you so very much.”
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, DiCaprio plays the role of Hugh Glass, a frontiersman who struggles for survival after being attacked by a bear and left for dead by his hunting party.
The Revenant won a total of 3 out of 8 nominations:
- Best Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu, “The Revenant”
- Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant”
- Best Cinematography: “The Revenant”
Tom McCarthy’s controversial film on the Catholic Church “Spotlight” brought home Best Picture.
In January, Leonardo DiCaprio successfully snagged his third Golden Globe award for Best Actor for The Revenant, alongside Alejandro González Iñárritum, who won Best Director.
DiCaprio has won over 40 awards to date, but never an Oscar.
The elusive Oscar award is said to be long-overdue for DiCaprio, whose five nominations span over 20 years.
His other nominations include:
- The Revenant (2015) – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Won)
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Nominated)
- Blood Diamond (2006) – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Nominated)
- The Aviator (2004) – Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Nominated)
- What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) – Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Nominated)
We truly admire DiCaprio for using his precious minutes at the Academy Awards by spending it not on himself but on more pressing issues such as climate change. Congratulations, Leo, for a well-deserved award!