LEONARDO DICAPRIO - DICAPRIO BACKS SCORSESE OSCAR BID

DICAPRIO BACKS SCORSESE OSCAR BID

Hollywood star LEONARDO DiCAPRIO is backing director MARTIN SCORSESE to win an Oscar for THE DEPARTED, and finds it ridiculous the film-maker has never won an Academy Award. Despite making acclaimed movies including TAXI DRIVER, MEAN STREETS and RAGING BULL during his four-decade long career, Scorsese has never won an Oscar, and DiCaprio insists the snub is "almost a practical joke". The 32-year-old actor, who has starred in Scorsese movies GANGS OF NEW YORK, THE AVIATOR and The Departed, says, "It would be wonderful if this film was rewarded, I think it very much deserves it. And I certainly think (Scorsese) does. It's quite long overdue, almost a practical joke at this point that that hasn't happened." However, Scorsese admits he doesn't expect to win the Oscar, saying, "I learned a long time ago, with Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, that you can't make a film to get the golden statue. And if you try it doesn't work."