Despite some reviewers describing the bleak and brutal revenge western The Revenant as “meaningless pain porn“, Leonardo DiCaprio’s latest film is up for 12 Oscars, with the Titanic star nominated for best actor a fourth time.

DiCaprio has spoken of his delight at his nomination for best actor, but also praised the Academy Awards for highlighting the work of the whole crew behind a film on the scale of The Revenant.

At the film’s London premiere, he said:

“It does feel great, especially when you’ve worked on something for this long a period of time. I keep saying to people, this was almost like going on a grand voyage together with a crew.

“To have to have so many different departments recognised the way they were, especially my friend Tom Hardy, my make-up artist that I’ve worked with for, what is it, almost 23 years now. To see all their efforts and work connecting with the Academy and our community, it does feel great. You know, it’s not often that films like this even get made but the fact that it’s gotten recognised means that we’re going to get to do more like it.”

Since the Oscars nominations were announced, The Revenant has emerged as the frontrunner for best picture, with director Alejandro G. Inarritu and DiCaprio himself also favourites for a gong.

After three previous disappointments at the awards ceremony in the past for The Aviator, Blood Diamond, and The Wolf Of Wall Street, one might imagine DiCaprio to be nervous at his best chance yet to win an Oscar but he says he doesn’t worry about events our of his control.

He told BBC Radio:

“The one reassuring thing about all this award season stuff is that you have absolutely no control over the outcome.”

“You’ve done the work, I do not know why I should be nervous. While you’re on the set and you give everything, that’s all you can do.”

The Oscars winners are selected by the 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and the 88th Academy Awards will take place on 28 February at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.