Comments on: Leonardo DiCaprio Conjures Up New Movie Where He’ll Play Rasputin

By: Delin ColÃ³n

Delin ColÃ³n — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:44:48 +0000

Rasputin was not the monster he's been depicted as. We know he was a healer, a champion of the underdog and downtrodden, and he was anti-war. He was especially horrified at the ethnic cleansing (pogroms) conducted by the military. It was a time when anti-Semitism was government policy, as evidenced by the laws restricting Jews to live in a certain area (The Pale of Settlement), barring them from educations and many occupations. The worst were the raids wherein entire towns of Jews were tortured and slaughtered.

To be against war (this was during WW I) and to advocate equal rights for Jews (who were all considered spies and thieves) were stances that were considered treasonous by society. Even worse, Rasputin had many progressive ideas for economic and social reform that threatened the nobility.

Read "RASPUTIN: The Memoirs of His Secretary" by Aron Simanovitch, newly translated into English and annotated for historical accuracy. Rasputin was a wild guy, but not the monster the aristocracy tried to depict him as. The demonic myth is based on the rumors the nobles spread to discredit him.

By: Lou

Lou — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:44:48 +0000

Gosh, it would be a gigantic mistake.

By: oogle monster

oogle monster — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:44:48 +0000

I love DiCatchaHoe to death but he needs to stay away from the accents. They don't get along.

By: Abcdefg

Abcdefg — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:44:48 +0000

For the sexual "proclivities", have victoria's secret models do it. Maybe he'll finally be into it and win that oscar he cares oh so much in life.

By: Thomas Terence

Thomas Terence — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:44:48 +0000

Jason Hall also wrote the upcoming Liam Hemsworth-Harrison Ford-Gary Oldman movie PARANOIA.

By: mpbstereo

mpbstereo — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:44:48 +0000

While I admire his pursuit of serious minded projects, I think DiCaprio could stand to do more ensemble work (such as The Departed) or even try his hand at some comedy.

By: alfie

alfie — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:44:48 +0000

I thought he said he wont be making movies for a while? or he'll take sabbatical after he finally wins that Oscar!

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:44:48 +0000

Has there ever been a movie star more desperate to be taken seriously than Leo? Who would've thought the same guy could play Howard Hughes, J. Edgar Hoover and now Rasputin.

I hope he gets the Oscar he's so hungry for just so he can finally start playing roles where he smiles and isn't egregiously miscast.