Last year, Leonardo DiCaprio handed over to federal authorities an Oscar once awarded to Marlon Brando, as it was a gift to him from a Malaysian financier that has been arrested on charges of committing fraud against an investment fund to the tune of billions of dollars, and using the funds in the most extravagant way imaginable.
According to a feature report published Sunday by The New York Times, prosecutors say that arrested financier Jho Low and the former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak were among those who siphoned billions from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a fund meant to benefit projects that would service the Malaysian public.
Instead, according to prosecutors, Low took billions from the fund and used it on lavish items and gifts. According to the NYT’s report, that includes a $250 million custom-built yacht, a $35 million Bombadier jet, $200 million in artwork including paintings by Van Gogh and Picasso, and the aforementioned Oscar that Marlon Brando won in 1954 for his performance in “On the Waterfront.”
Low’s connection to DiCaprio goes beyond the gifts. The film “The Wolf of Wall Street,” for which DiCaprio earned an Oscar nomination, was one of several films Low financed with the illegally obtained funds, prosecutors say. Low financed the film through a production label called Red Granite Pictures, which has also been attached to comedies like “Daddy’s Home” and “Dumb and Dumber To”
After investigation into the embezzlement began, DiCaprio relinquished all gifts given to him by Low, including the Oscar and Pablo Picasso’s “Nature Morte au Crâne de Taureau” (Still Life With Bull’s Head), which he stored in Switzerland. Representatives for DiCaprio said that the painting and other gifts from Low were intended for a charity auction to benefit the actor’s foundation, and that he reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice to negotiate the return of the items.
The Oscar might not stay with the feds for long. The Academy says that it reserves the right to buy back any Oscar that gets sold on the collector’s market for just one dollar. So if you see Brando’s Oscar on display at the museum the Academy will open next year, take a moment to think about the strange journey that golden statue has taken.
UPDATE 12/11, 1:40 PM PT: The article has been modified to include previously made statements from DiCaprio’s representatives.
Golden Globes' 10 Most Ludicrous Comedy or Musical Picks, From 'Get Out' to 'Green Book' (Photos)
Throughout its history, the Golden Globes have consistently made oddball choices when it comes to determining what films qualify under its Comedy or Musical categories. Here are 10 other instances that raise an eyebrow:
Justin Lubin/Universal
"The Three Musketeers" (1974)
There are a lot of examples of sumptuous, overly colorful period pieces and adventures that flirt with the musical tag, but the funniest thing about the 1973 "Three Musketeers," which was nominated for Best Musical or Comedy, is that Charlton Heston would play a villainous Cardinal.
Twentieth Century Fox
"Ghost" (1990)
We've gotten a lot of mileage out of parodies of that pottery scene, but just because Whoopi Goldberg is in "Ghost" doesn't make it a comedy. It was nominated in the Best Musical or Comedy category and lost to Peter Weir's "Green Card."
Paramount Pictures
"Fargo" (1996)
It isn't easy to pin down one genre for any Coen Brothers movie, especially "Fargo." But the real joke is that "Fargo" ended up losing to "Evita."
Gramercy Pictures
"Vicky Christina Barcelona" (2008)
The Globes would eventually figure out with "Blue Valentine" that there are some times when Woody Allen just prefers to not be funny, so why not this time? It did manage to win in the Musical or Comedy category however.
MGM
"The Tourist" (2010)
How can we invite Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp to the awards ceremony? Let's nominate this romantic action caper with a 20 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and stick it in the Musical or Comedy category!
Columbia Pictures
"RED" (2010)
Yeah, it's an action movie, but we'd find some way to invite Helen Mirren to the awards ceremony if we could too.
Summit Entertainment
"My Week With Marilyn" (2011)
Maybe someone will make a movie worthy of a Golden Globe that celebrates Marilyn Monroe's musical and comedic achievements. But this drama about Monroe's romantic fling in London wasn't it. The Michelle Williams film lost to "The Artist" that year.
The Weinstein Company
"The Martian" (2015)
"In your face, Neil Armstrong!" That line of dialogue is just about all it takes to be considered a comedy it seems. And it won!
Twentieth Century Fox
"Get Out" (2017)
Jordan Peele's "Get Out" is funny in that queasy, racially tense and awkward way -- but make no mistake, it's a horror movie. But it was nominated in the Best Musical or Comedy category and lost to "Lady Bird."
Universal Pictures
"Green Book" (2018)
While some jokes are cracked about how much the lead character eats, the story of a white bouncer hired to drive a closeted Black pianist through the racist South is more of a light-hearted drama than anything else.
Courtesy of TIFF
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The categories for ”My Week With Marilyn“ and ”The Tourist“ also had moviegoers scratching their heads
Throughout its history, the Golden Globes have consistently made oddball choices when it comes to determining what films qualify under its Comedy or Musical categories. Here are 10 other instances that raise an eyebrow: