In the new Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie the world is depicted as a game, an immense and obscure game where a guy can make 12 million in three minutes and tossed dwarfs as a moral example. The Wolf of Wall Street is a real story based in the life of Jordan Belford, a broker from New Jersey that in the 80s tried every way to take advantage of Wall Street. Directed by Martin Scorsese the film is another collaboration of this duo that is making history in Hollywood. With DiCaprio we had the chance to speak in Los Angeles where he confessed his admiration for Spanish culture and how much he enjoys his summer in the island of Ibiza.
Q: You travel with frequency to Spain, do you speak Spanish ?
A: I would love to. No. I do speak some German, and some Italian, my Spanish is reduced to a bunch of words but I would love to read books in Spanish as it is an amazing culture. I really like my vacation in Ibiza, is beautiful.
Q: Any author that you like from the Spanish world?
A: One of my favorites authors is Ernest Hemingway and he is not Spanish but he was in love with the Spanish culture. Many things I learn from your country are through his eyes. The Old Man and the Sea, The Garden of Eden or A Farewell to Armsare inspired in Spain.
Q: How was the shooting of The Wolf of Wall Street?
A:In my experience Scorsese never had a better time making a movie. I gota script seven years ago, actually I got the book and then this incredibly screenplay that I used to referrer to as "theRoman Empire", because even if it happenedin the late Eighties and early Ninetiesitreminds meof Caligula, the crazyEmperor, Trying to take advantage of every opportunity my characterran the life of some sortRoman Emperorwith the same debauchery
Q: Is a moral story?
A: It is a cautionary tale of course, but is also really entertaining. We went into this endeavor with the idea of making a movie about Wall Street and those guys who are all over the place. The name Wall Street is even in the title and how do youbring people into a theater in this time of crisis? It is the authenticity of how Jordan Belfortexploredthis era in his life that Martin was passionateabout. He said: ‘look, I have done movies about gangsters and criminals andIknow that if you portraythesepeople and their world with authenticity and you are truthful about who they are and you don't try to edulcorate their code,or apologize or make them too sympathetic, people will go with it. People want to see and to know this world, that'swhywe want to represent one very honestportrayalof a time absolutely insane, overtaken by greed and consumption’
Q: Is all about this character's life?
A:The book alreadytold that, but our attitude was: let's bring a lot ofactors to the table, let's them go crazy, and let's them improvise as much as possible. On setevery day was an adventure because somebody was bringing something new and unexpected that made the film different. With people like Matthew McConaughey and Jonah Hill we really didn't know what was going to happen dayby day. Andeven for me. The more I became Jordanthemore the movie became insane
Q: Did you research a lot?
A: I know that I am famous for my research. But this time having the real person was enough for me. I have spent months with him. What is great about him is that he is a reformed man and there is anything he can do to be very honest and transparent about that time in his life and about what he thinks that greed and American capitalism means . Now he is doing seminars teaching people about having more transparency and doing business right. He is adamant that at the time was out of his mind. Every time we did a scene I went to him asking: "There is any other detail which you didn't disclose?" He told me everything even the more bizarre and shameless stuff. It was really an amazing material to put on the screen and everything was true...."
Q: Do you like stories about greed?
A: Jordan Belfort was a small fish in a pool of gigantic sharks. He was a guy from Long Island trying to create Wall Street in the middle of nowhere. He was a guy who watched the movie Wall Street and wanted to be Gordon Gekko. He didn't have any moral integrity whatsoever, his mantra was let's get rich playing with the system that America set up for us, finding a loop and taking advantage of it. To me the life and the times of Jordan Belfort are a microcosm of a much bigger story
Q: Money is an addiction?
A: The movie explores a sort of legalized underworld where everybody has an attraction for money, and want to get rich as quickly as possible. As a human being I don't approve that, because I try to do charity and philanthropy, but as an actor I can understand: how many people love Scarface or Public Enemy and would like to have the same lifestyle .
Q: Do I think that money makes you happy?
A: No, because you should have a better epicenterand cherish other things more valuable than that. And beware: money is something that easily becomes an obsession. People who doesn't have foundationsin other areascould be easily addicted. In ourmoviemoney is depicted exactly like other addiction: sex and drug.
Q: Is greed a consequence of the American dream?
A: I don't think greed is a consequence of the American dream. greed is something inherent to the human nature, and is actually unfortunately as the nature works
Q: Does Scorsese make you prepare a lot for your characters?
A: Usually every time we did a movie together Scorsese gave me some homework: obscure movies from the past of exotic country to get inspiration or simply vibes.But this time the references were all about Martin 's works, a combination of Goodfellas, King of Comedy, After Hours. Is a movie tailored for him, this was the reason I think why Marti said yes
Q: How do you see your career going?
A: careers are very hard to handle, mostly in the long term. I have worked a lot and with amazing directors, actors. that never go away from me. I am very grateful for the opportunity, and I always try to include in my work their example and teachings.. But the truth is that my attitude about what I do never changes. And if I look at myself at 15 years old. Some choices that I made at that very young age, makes me proud of myself. And that has a lot to do with the movies I have seen in the past : , so much great artistry that I couldn 't help but say to myself: " I have to do something that good one day". And the crave never leaves me.
Q: Do you invest in the market?
A: I have stocks and I have a broker, yes, but I don't even know where he is investing in.
Q: If you weren't an actor what would you have been?
A: I could have been a biologist and try to save the environment. But being instead an actor I have the opportunity of a bigger stage to sensitize people. To me environment is not only my responsibility, but also my passion.
(c) America Reads Spanish
© Denis Makarenko | Dreamstime.com
