A Force of Nature Called JARED LETO

In honor of seeing 30 Seconds To Mars in concert today for the first time in SEVEN - yeah, that's 7 - years, here's a quick look at the promising career of the man himself.

No one really acknowledges how Jared Leto has transitioned to such a prominent figure of our time, but once you take a minute and think, with a perceptive 30STM song playing in the background (I recommend "City of Angels," "Do or Die," or even "From Yesterday," if you want to go old school), you start to realize how much of an inspiration JL truly is.

With a dedicated and active voice on Twitter and Instagram (@JaredLeto), JL has proved his relentless drive and versatility throughout various talents. From his many philanthropic endeavors to his countless musical achievements (30STM frontman, four successful albums, and leader of the Echelon), homeboy has also recently made a swift and golden comeback to the big screen.

 

He's also a total mama's boy, which makes me love him even more.

In a time with so many different voices heeding the movement for creativity, passion, love, equality, expression, and hope, Jared Leto's most definitely stands out as he reminds us over and over again that "it's okay to dream as big as you can dream."

#preach

OMG ME TOO! LET'S BE FRIENDS! #scandal



Seriously, what a way with words.

Thanks, JL, for making me feel better about majoring in English and being completely broke. What a pal! :) 

There's ALWAYS hope, people!

Not that we need reminding, but let's recall why we love JL so much with his most noteworthy roles and accomplishments.

My So-Called Life (1994)

JL went through a string of small television roles before being casted as the rebellious Jordan Catalano on the ABC cult classic, My So-Called Life. The drama received many positive reviews and established a following due to its portrayal of adolescence. However, that didn't stop it from being cancelled after one season. 

Those eyes. That hair. That baby face. Swoooooon.

Prefontaine (1997)

JL went onto star in the biopic Prefontaine, which chronicled real life American long-distance runner, Steve Prefontaine (fun fact: Steve Prefontaine possessed a strong talent for running despite having a short stature and legs of different lengths!). The film underperformed at the box office, but received critical recognition for JL's performance. 

To prepare for the role, JL underwent training for 6 weeks and met with the runner's real life family and friends. I've never seen this movie, but it goes to show how dedicated JL is once he becomes immersed in a role.

Urban Legend (1998) 

Okay, so obviously anything that has Tara Reid in it is pure crap (aside from like, Cruel Intentions and the American Pie franchise), but I totally have a soft spot for this movie, being that it's another cheesy, 90s slasher flick (I don't have it on DVD or anything ahahaha *eye twitches*). JL plays undergrad journalist, Paul Gardner, who shacks up with the annoying and unattractive female lead, Natalie (Alicia Witt), to investigate a number of urban legend-inspired murders surrounding their college campus. This movie didn't sit well with critics, but it made some dough at the box office and co-stars 90s royalty Joshua Jackson, Rebecca Gayheart, and Freddy Kruger himself, Robert Englund.

*Spoiler alert: Tara Reid's character dies, not that anyone cares.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

THIS MOVIE IS ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NUTS. SERIOUSLY. LIKE. WHAT.

Wouldn't expect anything less from Aronofsky, holy shitballs. But yeah, this is probably JL's most polarizing role to date. Following supporting roles in Fight Club (1999) and American Psycho (2000), JL went on to play a heroin addict in this psychological drama. It's been said the subject matter is "hard to stomach," but the performances are unforgettable.

Panic Room (2002)

Those cornrows. Ugh. I can't. 

I actually really enjoyed this movie though. Directed by David Fincher, Panic Room stars Jodie Foster and a young KStew who play lesbian lovers mother and daughter who become terrorized by home invaders in their huge, amazingly sick Upper West Side brownstone. Their home also happens to have a hi-tech panic room (as if the price of living isn't expensive enough), where they seek refuge during the break-in. Alongside fellow Oscar winner, Forest Whitaker, JL plays the other burglar... who has cornrows. Aside from being a home invasion film, Panic Room is said to hold many significant themes that I don't care enough to go into right now. Still definitely worth watching ;)

Alexander (2004)

Another Oliver Stone piece of crap, this biopic surrounds the conquests of Alexander The Great and his alleged bisexuality. JL plays Alexander's bff/rumored fwb, Hephaestion. The movie failed critically and financially, but hey, at least you get to seem some man-on-man action. And JL channels his inner 30STM with that eyeliner!

Lord of War (2005)

Now HERE was a good movie! Lord of War stars Nicholas Cage (ew) as Ukrainian-American gunrunner, Yuri Orlov. JL plays his younger brother, Vitaly, who becomes heavily addicted to cocaine and dies later in the film (sorry, but with a title like that, you have to expect either Cage or JL kicks the bucket in this movie). Lord of War received some positive reviews and features another stellar performance by JL. 

Chapter 27 (2007)

Chapter 27 was an independent production depicting the mind of Mark David Chapman and the events leading up to the murder of John Lennon. JL plays Chapman, who was obsessed with J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, and attempted to mimic his life after the novel's protagonist, Holden Caulfield. Chapman was said to have a copy of the book on him at the time of Lennon's murder and the film's title - Chapter 27 - suggests an additional chapter to Rye, which is known to have 26 chapters. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2007 and co-stars Lilo at the beginning of her crazy train express. 

Chapter 27 was one of the most controversial films of the 2000s and JL gained 67 pounds for the role by eating mircowaved pints of ice cream mixed with soy sauce and olive oil every night. Bleh.

Mr. Nobody (2009)

Another film of JL's I have yet to see, Mr. Nobody premiered at the 66th Venice International Film Festival to strong critical response. JL plays Nemo Nobody, the last human being on Earth at 118 years-old after society has reached the point of "quasi-immortality." Like something out of postmodern fiction, the film features a nonlinear narrative and happens to change course based on the decisions of JL's character at different ages. 
118 years old? I'd be like, someone put a gun to my head STAT.

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

This. THIS. THISSSSSSq#%$@#$^$%&. 
If you haven't seen this movie, I suggest you do so. Like, now. Right this second. Drive to your nearest Red Box or look this shit up On Demand. Sure, this movie is absolutely terrifying due to its raw depiction of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, but it tells a beautiful story and features JL's best transformation and acting ability to date. Homeboy took home an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this film - after a FIVE year hiatus from acting - and rightfully so. His portrayal of Rayon, an HIV-positive trans woman, literally brought me to tears when I watched this and I couldn't have been more proud. Critics loved this movie too and the soundtrack features amazing tracks by talented artists, including an acoustic version of 30STM's "City of Angels." 
EVERYONE should see this movie. But like, don't watch it while you're babysitting the neighbor's kids. 

 If you haven't already, check out JL's Oscar acceptance speech.

He loves loves loves his mama! So friggin cute.

 

Mama Leto and brother Shannon are so proud!

 

They're one happy freakin Leto family. 

 

He makes sure Mama Leto doesn't go hungry because the Academy doesn't care to feed all these skinny, beautiful celebs. 

I'm not sure I'd EVER give up my slice of pizza to ANYONE.

  

SERIOUSLY.

But you know what, that's why we love JL!

 

And the story goes on.