2013 Oscar Nominations

DDL and Depp are different animals and I do not think it is fair to compare them. DDL always works with the best people in the business and pretty much sticks to period pieces and serious roles. Depp jumps around a lot and will work on popcorn projects just for the fuck of it. They really work opposite sides of the street, for the most part. If you want to compare people to DDL, you have to talk about Oldman, Cumberbatch, Bale, Hoffman, and Michael Parks, whom some have already mentioned in this thread. Personally, I think Hoffman and Oldman are better actors, because they have done period pieces AND they have done comedy, which is something DDL has not really done.

DeCaprio, while really good, is not really in the same league of serious acting that DDL is and seems to venture into the action arena a little more, but they are similar in career path. Really, the only DeCaprio performances that really blew me away were Gilbert Grape, The Departed, and J. Edgar. To me, he is what Nicholas Cage would have become if he had not started phoning it in for every movie after Leaving Las Vegas. It will be interesting to see what he does when he gets older, because if J. Edgar is any indication I think he is one of those actors that will make a transition into different types of roles and really become one of the all time greats.

ps Afleck was a better actor before he became a full time pothead, but his directing got better. He got sucked into a bunch of what was popular at the time his career began, ie teen comedies and action flicks. His level of ability depends entirely on his interest in the work. As a result, he has made done some really great roles, like in Chasing Amy, Hollywoodland, The Town. He also has had some really good bit parts like his brief roles in Smoking Aces and Extract. When he is bored or need pot money, then shit like Gigli, Daredevil, and Surviving Christmas happen.