DeNiro Appreciation thread

[danlo]

I've seen tons of Robert DeNiro-but can you believe I've never seen his two most critically acclaimed films: Raging Bull and Taxi Driver?!! I feel his career took a downward turn after Sleepers but I did like City by the Sea and Ronin. Sorry just can't get into Meet the Parents and the "Analyse" movies put me to sleep...Anyway, Foul, I and others have been discussing the man in another thread so--I thought DeNiro, without a doubt, deserved his own...(:have watched

(Godsend (2004) .... Richard Wells-ok
Analyze That (2002) .... Paul Vitti
(City by the Sea (2002) .... Vincent LaMarca-vg
Showtime (2002) .... Det. Mitch Preston
(The Score (2001) .... Nick Wells-vg
15 Minutes (2001) .... Detective Eddie Flemming
(Meet the Parents (2000) .... Jack Byrnes-not so hot
(Men of Honor (2000) .... Master Chief/Senior Chief/Chief Leslie W. 'Billy' Sunday-g
Flawless (1999) .... Walt Koontz
(Analyze This (1999) .... Paul Vitti-soso
(Ronin (1998) .... Sam-vg
Great Expectations (1998) .... Arthur Lustig
(Jackie Brown (1997) .... Louis Gara-vg (strange bit part)
Wag the Dog (1997) .... Conrad Brean
(Cop Land (1997) .... Lt. Moe Tilden-g
Marvin's Room (1996) .... Dr. Wally-g
(Sleepers (1996) .... Father Bobby-eg
(The Fan (1996) .... Gil Renard -vg
(Heat (1995) .... Neil McCauley-o
(Casino (1995) .... Sam 'Ace' Rothstein-g (the rest of the film stank)
(Frankenstein (1994) .... The Creature-eg
(A Bronx Tale (1993) .... Lorenzo Anello-vg
(This Boy's Life (1993) .... Dwight Hansen-eg
Mad Dog and Glory (1993) .... Wayne 'Mad Dog' Dobie
(Night and the City (1992) .... Harry Fabian-g
Mistress (1992) .... Evan M. Wright
(Cape Fear (1991) .... Max Cady-o
(Backdraft (1991) .... Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale-vg
(Guilty by Suspicion (1991) .... David Merrill-vg
(Awakenings (1990) .... Leonard Lowe-vg
(Goodfellas (1990) .... Jimmy Conway-o
Stanley & Iris (1990) .... Stanley Everett Cox
(We're No Angels (1989) .... Ned-g
Jacknife (1989) .... Joseph 'Jacknife' Megessey
(Midnight Run (1988) .... Jack Walsh-vg
(The Untouchables (1987) .... Al Capone-vg
(Angel Heart (1987) .... Louis Cyphre-o
(The Mission (1986) .... Rodrigo Mendoza-eg
(Brazil (1985) .... Archibald 'Harry' Tuttle-o
(Falling in Love (1984) .... Frank Raftis-g
(Once Upon a Time in America (1984) .... David 'Noodles' Aaronson-vg
(The King of Comedy (1983) .... Rupert Pupkin-eg
(True Confessions (1981) .... Des Spellacy-g
Raging Bull (1980) .... Jake La Motta
(The Deer Hunter (1978) .... Michael Vronsky-o
(New York, New York (1977) .... Jimmy Doyle-g
The Last Tycoon (1976) .... Monroe Stahr
1900 (1976) .... Alfredo Berlinghieri
Taxi Driver (1976) (as Robert DeNiro) .... Travis Bickle
(The Godfather: Part II (1974) .... Vito Corleone-vg
(Mean Streets (1973) .... John 'Johnny Boy' Civello-vg
(Bang the Drum Slowly-eg

legend:
o: outstanding
eg: extremely good
vg: good
g: good

[I'm Murrin]

I've seen three of the films on that list. One of them I can remember nothing about, another I can't remember Deniro's part in.

[dlbpharmd]

These are the ones that I've seen:


(Meet the Parents (2000) .... Jack Byrnes-not so hot
(Ronin (1998) .... Sam-vg
(Jackie Brown (1997) .... Louis Gara-vg (strange bit part)
(Cop Land (1997) .... Lt. Moe Tilden-g
(Sleepers (1996) .... Father Bobby-eg
(Heat (1995) .... Neil McCauley-o
(Casino (1995) .... Sam 'Ace' Rothstein-g (the rest of the film stank)
(Frankenstein (1994) .... The Creature-eg
(Backdraft (1991) .... Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale-vg
(Awakenings (1990) .... Leonard Lowe-vg
(Goodfellas (1990) .... Jimmy Conway-o
The Untouchables (1987) .... Al Capone-vg
(Angel Heart (1987) .... Louis Cyphre-o
(The Deer Hunter (1978) .... Michael Vronsky-o
Taxi Driver (1976) (as Robert DeNiro) .... Travis Bickle
(The Godfather: Part II (1974) .... Vito Corleone-vg

I pretty much agree with your assessments. DeNiro is one of my favorite actors. He does get alot of criticism for making bad movies, especially recently, but overall he's been outstanding.

[Cail]

I won't list them, but if you're a De Niro fan you've got to see:
-Taxi Driver
-The Deer Hunter
-Midnight Run
-Heat
-The Untouchables
-Raging Bull

As much as I love The Deer Hunter and Taxi Driver, Heat is probably the best De Niro film I've seen.

[dlbpharmd]

Heat is just a great movie in general. I don't see what all the fuss is about Deer Hunter though. Oh well.

[Alynna Lis Eachann]

First watched Ronin because Sean Bean was in it... couldn't stand the whiny whimp he played and gave up on it (lol, but not him!). Watched the second half at some later point in time and gained quite an appreciation for DeNiro.

I've seen:

Analyze That (2002) .... Paul Vitti
Showtime (2002) .... Det. Mitch Preston
(Meet the Parents (2000) .... Jack Byrnes
(Men of Honor (2000) .... Master Chief/Senior Chief/Chief Leslie W. 'Billy'
(Analyze This (1999) .... Paul Vitti
(Ronin (1998) .... Sam
(Heat (1995) .... Neil McCauley
(Backdraft (1991) .... Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale
(We're No Angels (1989) .... Ned

Admittedly not the cream of the crop, but I loved We're No Angels and Analyze This. The only saving grace for a couple of these movies, though, was the fact that DeNiro was in them (especially Meet the Parents).

Still have not seen Wag the Dog, though I've tried to catch it repeatedly. Would like to see Heat again, too.

[Cail]

I'd suggest Midnight Run if you like him in comedies. I think it was the first one he did, and arguably the best. He's not playing a caracature of himself in it.

[lorin]

I just finished watching The Deer Hunter again. Is there a better movie? Just great with a great cast. Interesting factoid. John Cazale was in his final stages of terminal cancer during the filming. The studio tried to write him out. He was dating Meryl Streep who threatened to quit if they did. He died a few weeks after filming. It may be me, but I think there are some homosexual overtones to Nick and Michaels relationship.

Anyway to add to Danlo's list Being Flynn was a great indie film with De Niro playing a homeless man.

And one of the worst DeNiro films and maybe one of the worst films of all time was just out - The Family.

[rdhopeca]

I'd suggest Midnight Run if you like him in comedies. I think it was the first one he did, and arguably the best. He's not playing a caracature of himself in it.

^^^^ this. One of my all time favorites, him, Charles Grodin, and Dennis Farina are spot on. Hilarious movie without a hint of parody.

[Obi-Wan Nihilo]

Interesting bump.

Deniro is fabulous in Silver Linings Playbook. It's the first time I've ever really felt that he allowed himself to be truly vulnerable on screen, and I actually felt compassion for him. Normally he seems indestructible.

[lorin]

Interesting bump.

Deniro is fabulous in Silver Linings Playbook. It's the first time I've ever really felt that he allowed himself to be truly vulnerable on screen, and I actually felt compassion for him. Normally he seems indestructible.

watch Being Flynn.

[Cail]

Interesting bump.

Deniro is fabulous in Silver Linings Playbook. It's the first time I've ever really felt that he allowed himself to be truly vulnerable on screen, and I actually felt compassion for him. Normally he seems indestructible.

One of the 5 worst movies I've ever seen......Like Highlander 2 bad.

[Obi-Wan Nihilo]

Interesting bump.

Deniro is fabulous in Silver Linings Playbook. It's the first time I've ever really felt that he allowed himself to be truly vulnerable on screen, and I actually felt compassion for him. Normally he seems indestructible.

One of the 5 worst movies I've ever seen......Like Highlander 2 bad.

I loved it. I mean really really loved it.

There can be only one.

[lorin]

Interesting bump.

Deniro is fabulous in Silver Linings Playbook. It's the first time I've ever really felt that he allowed himself to be truly vulnerable on screen, and I actually felt compassion for him. Normally he seems indestructible.

One of the 5 worst movies I've ever seen......Like Highlander 2 bad.

I loved it. I mean really really loved it.

There can be only one.

I enjoyed it for the madness. I can relate to madness, the absolute need to get things right, to find steady ground, to start over with a clean slate.

[peter]

Are you talkin' to me?

[peter]

de Niro was in American Hustle for five minutes playing [what elase] a mob buisiness man, but it was the best five minutes of the film and demonstrated at every level what it is that makes him a true great in his profession. He was very, very, scary!

[lorin]

see THIS

www.imdb.com/title/tt0455323/?ref_=nv_sr_1

[lucimay]

I won't list them, but if you're a De Niro fan you've got to see:
-Taxi Driver
-The Deer Hunter
-Midnight Run
-Heat
-The Untouchables
-Raging Bull

As much as I love The Deer Hunter and Taxi Driver, Heat is probably the best De Niro film I've seen.

yep and I'd add Angel Heart, The Mission, The King of Comedy, and Brazil to that to complete my list of favorites.
i've seen most everything he's been in but these are my favorites.

[wayfriend]

Normally he seems indestructible.

He does seem to be overtypecast as a brutal cop, brutal mobster, brutal CEO, brutal soldier, etc. It's a real treat to see him in something different. His role in Brazil was quite a surprise - loved that.