5 Reasons Leonardo DiCaprio Should Win Best Actor Oscar This Year (And 5 Reasons Why He Won't)

2. He Wants It Too Much (He Shouldn't)

Reverence is key when addressing the members of the Academy, they have to know that you admire and respect the organization before they give you an award. But along with the esteem in which a potential recipient views the history of film (and the supposed expectation that the Academy stands in as the guardians of film history), nominees are almost expected to downplay the awards themselves as further praise that they don't particularly deserve. It's that kind of detachment which allows them to politely continue to applaud when their name isn't announced in their category, but Leo really seems to need the praise of his peers in order to justify his choices when it comes to appearing in films. I know it sounds like a contradiction to say that recipients have to want it enough to campaign, but not enough to campaign enthusiastically, nevertheless that seems to be the way it works. Sean Penn seems like exactly the kind of actor who would pretend to be above the pomp and circumstance of awards show galas, but he has won the Best Actor Oscar twice since 2003. A delicate balance of nonchalance and gratitude is needed, and Leo tends to swing heavily towards the latter which potentially limits his opportunities.