From Entertainment Tonight

From Nov 21st edition of Japan Today

Gangs" a long time coming for DiCaprio, Scorsese

Chris Betros

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese meet the press in Tokyo. TOKYO — It's been 2 1/2 years since Leonardo DiCaprio visited Japan but he has lost none of the star power that has made him champion heartthrob of the universe for young Japanese women at least.

During his first two days in Japan this week with director Martin Scorsese for the world premiere of "Gangs of New York," the 28-year-old star was mobbed by 500 fans at Narita airport and attended by more than 600 media personnel at their news conference. The event was also broadcast live on the Internet.

Scheduled for a simultaneous Dec 21 release in Japan and the U.S., "Gangs of New York" has had a tough time getting booked into cinemas, said Scorsese. First it was scheduled for release last Christmas. However, in the aftermath of the Sept 11 terror attacks, he thought it prudent to wait. So it got bumped to July of this year. But the distributor didn't want to go head to head with "Road to Perdition." Christmas Day was the next choice — except that DiCaprio had his next movie, "Catch Me If You Can," already scheduled for theater release on Dec 25. Finally, Scorsese said, it was decided to open "Gangs" one week earlier than "Catch Me If You Can" in the U.S.

Japan, of course, doesn't have that problem ("Catch Me If You Can" will open here in the spring). Besides, fans and distributors can't get enough of DiCaprio who takes it all in his stride, speaking humbly about working with the great director whom he always calls "Mr Scorsese."

"I think he is one of the great American masters as far as films go," said DiCaprio speaking quietly. "He has a heightened commitment and he lives and breathes cinema. You cannot help but be at your best when you work with him."

Continued on Page 2

Thanks to Yumi, the entire press conference for GONY in Japan, November 18 2002 can be viewed here:

Clip 1 (high resolution)

Clip 2 (low resolution)

More great clips from the Japanese Excite GONY Page