Their best performance: Robert De Niro

[The Rick]

Fro's best sports movie thread inspired this thread.

In my opinion Raging Bull is De Niro's best performance was his role as Jake La Motta in Raging Bull. De Niro has been in better films(The Godfather, Goodfellas, etc...), but I fell his performance in Raging Bull trumps them all.

Agree or disagree? Discuss. And if you haven't seen the film, DO IT! Then come back and discuss.

[Fro]

Agreed. His performance in Raging Bull is one of the all time greats. Taxi Driver would be the other one I might go back and forth on. My favorite role of his is probably that of Sam "Ace" Rothstein but that wasn't as challenging or as multi-layered as the aforementioned. Awakenings is one that might deserve a strong shout but I haven't seen it in like 10 years and forget how good he was.

This is a good idea for a thread series.

[The Rick]

This is a good idea for a thread series.

That's the idea. Let this thread run its course, and then go Pacino. Or let someone else pick.

[LOCONUT]

Ace Rothstein in Casino was pretty easily my favorite. Mad love for Raging Bull but Casino was it for me.

[Mik]

I think that its a clear run at Raging Bull...its as good as pretty much anything ever put up on screen ever.

Taxi Driver is sooo good and there's also underrated stuff like Midnight Run, Awakenings, This Boys Life and in particular The Mission, which is so phenomenally good. De Niro went through a run of form for about 10 years that is almost untouchable.

[Mark Hammer]

Godfather 2 easily.

I don't think he gets nearly enough credit for the Meet the Parents trilogy either.

[Dream-Evil]

Really liked him in Silver Linings Playbook too.

[Jimmy Zero]

Godfather 2 easily.

I don't think he gets nearly enough credit for the Meet the Parents trilogy either.

Not easily. I'd say Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, The King of Comedy, and Raging Bull are all much better performances than Godfather 2.

Agreed on Meet the Parents. He was awesome in those.

[Mark Hammer]

Not easily. I'd say Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, The King of Comedy, and Raging Bull are all much better performances than Godfather 2.

Agreed on Meet the Parents. He was awesome in those.

"Easily" probably wasn't the ideal choice of wording, he's been in some classics. I love love loved him as young Vito though, I thought they nailed it with his casting.

[Mik]

The screen test that got him the gig of young vito is absolutely electrifying. Too edgy and wired for santino.

[JP]

I'm with Mark, Raging Bull and Taxi Driver are incredible performances but they're both very showy, the kind that are designed to always catch your eye. I prefer the subtlety and understated nuances that he brings to Vito which shows him at his absolute best.

Cape Fear is right up there for me, too.

[Mik]

Haha, I like that you think that Taxi Driver in particular is too showy...then praise his most showy performance of all as Max Candy in Cape Fear.

The simmering tension he creates in Goodfellas is undeniably awesome though.

[JP]

:D

Not that he's too showy in Taxi Driver, perfect for the role, but that I prefer the more understated nature of his performance in Godfather Pt 2. And Goodfellas is a good comparison for it actually, with both it feels like there's so much more running beneath the surface, so much being held back and hidden, love it.

Wasn't supposed to be a connection with the two, just that I was a bit surprised nobody had mentioned Cape Fear by that point.

And you're the only person to have mentioned Midnight Cowboy which I remember absolutely loving. Gonna give that a download actually, as I remember finding the film incredibly funny but not so much about the quality of performances in it.

[Mark Hammer]

This thread could use a poll, imo.

[Mik]

:D

Not that he's too showy in Taxi Driver, perfect for the role, but that I prefer the more understated nature of his performance in Godfather Pt 2. And Goodfellas is a good comparison for it actually, with both it feels like there's so much more running beneath the surface, so much being held back and hidden, love it.

Wasn't supposed to be a connection with the two, just that I was a bit surprised nobody had mentioned Cape Fear by that point.

And you're the only person to have mentioned Midnight Cowboy which I remember absolutely loving. Gonna give that a download actually, as I remember finding the film incredibly funny but not so much about the quality of performances in it.

Midnight Run...wouldnt want you getting the wrong film.

The two central performances are absolutely great in it.

[JP]

Just finished Pride today, obviously still on my mind.

[Gary J]

The Deer Hunter gets my vote.

[Jacknife]

I haven't seen most of the films that have been mentioned, but A Bronx Tale is my favorite of the ones I've seen.

[The Rick]

I haven't seen most of the films that have been mentioned, but A Bronx Tale is my favorite of the ones I've seen.

Well if you like the guy, it looks like you have some films to get to.

[Jacknife]

Hide & Seek was pretty good from what I remember.

[The Rick]

I have a friend that is a film school grad. I mentioned this discussion, and he recommended Rupert Pupkin in "The King of Comedy". He said that it is a very underrated Scorsese flick, and De Niro's performance in it is pitch perfect. Mik have you seen this particular film? I'm going to have to look this one up.

[Jimmy Zero]

That's a fantastic movie. Your friend is right. It's criminally underrated.

[McBain]

Probably Taxi Driver for me.

Some really close seconds though.

[TimeSplitter]

I love "The King of Comedy." One of Scorsese's best films.

Also, I watched "Silver Linings Playbook" tonight. It is one of De Niro's best works in a really long time.

[Mik]

I have a friend that is a film school grad. I mentioned this discussion, and he recommended Rupert Pupkin in "The King of Comedy". He said that it is a very underrated Scorsese flick, and De Niro's performance in it is pitch perfect. Mik have you seen this particular film? I'm going to have to look this one up.

Yeah...


That's a fantastic movie. Your friend is right. It's criminally underrated.

I agree with Jimmy. It's a great performance too.


I love "The King of Comedy." One of Scorsese's best films.

Also, I watched "Silver Linings Playbook" tonight. It is one of De Niro's best works in a really long time.

To me that says more about how poor de Niro has been that SLP which was just a par for the course by the mill performance actually won him an Oscar nomination where in reality back in his prime it would've been considered one of his weaker performances.