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Written by Sunil Dhokia "You talking to me". The famous movie line and performance that catapulted this actor into the stratosphere of the movie world. We take a look at 5 performances (in reverse order) that have been significant in shaping Robert De Niro as an acting force to be reckoned with. 5. Leonard Lowe - Awakenings (1990) Robert De Niro has always been an actor that has challenged himself in every role he has played before this movie. However, his role as the catatonic patient, Leonard Lowe, is perhaps the most complex and challenging in his career to date. The subject of mental disorders and illnesses has been covered throughout the history of Hollywood, with varying degrees of success. De Niro's performance as Leonard Lowe leans towards the better portrayals on this subject matter. The actor's decision to study and research real-life catatonic patients in hospitals pays off in spades here, as you believe Leonard is among the unfortunate group of patients suffering from catatonia. De Niro's chemistry with the late Robin Williams, who plays Doctor Malcolm Sayer, is a highlight of the movie, as we experience the ups and downs of Leonard's temporary recovery from his disorder before the sad reality of his original existence comes back to hit the audience with a floodgate of tears. 4. Lorenzo - A Bronx Tale (1993) In his directorial debut no less, Robert De Niro was just assured behind the camera as he was in front of it. His character of Lorenzo, a hard-working, Italian-American, is one that audiences can relate to, as De Niro successfully portrays the honest, family nurturing qualities of his character. Particularly the relationship with his son, Calogero (Francis Capra and Lillo Brancato Jr) is beautifully realised, as the wisdom imparted by Lorenzo to his son throughout the movie are values and morals that we can all take in life. 3. Vito Corleone - The Godfather Part II (1974) Filling the shoes of Marlon Brando, after his Oscar-winning performance in The Godfather (1972) for any actor would have been daunting to downright impossible. However, as the story of Vito Corleone in part 2 of this saga takes place as a prequel to the events of the first movie, Robert De Niro was by default given creative freedom to craft his take on the character, whilst still honouring Brando's iconic performance. De Niro's method style of acting, even this early in his career, is there for all to see, as he inhabits the various facial expressions and body movements of Brando, whilst conveying how Vito was in a very different place in his life, as a young man trying to forge his path in the mafia underworld. 2. Jake LaMotta - Raging Bull (1980) In one of his most physically and emotionally demanding roles, Robert De Niro won his second Oscar, this time in his portrayal of the real-life boxer, Jake LaMotta. The movie lives up to its title, as De Niro portrays the worst qualities a human being can manifest within themselves. Hate, ego and rage no less are all characteristics that De Niro captures in his performance, with supporting characters such as his brother, Joey (Joe Pesci) and Jake's wife, Vickie (Cathy Moriarty) often feeling the full brunt of his not-so-subtle actions. De Niro shows us that whilst Jake LaMotta was in his prime a great boxer, he was unable to lead a happy life outside of the ring. Despite being an unlikable character for the bulk of the movie, De Niro somehow manages to captivate us right the way through to the movie's conclusion. 1. Travis Bickle - Taxi Driver (1976) You've probably guessed what my number one Robert De Niro performance was going to be from the opening of this article. In a movie that deals with heavy themes such as insanity, depression and loneliness, De Niro sells the idea of a man who's on the edge of a cliff, with nothing else to live for in this seedy, grimy and unjust depiction of 1970s New York. The combination of director Martin Scorsese, a one of a kind script from the great Paul Schrader and an acting masterclass from De Niro result in a character that while we never condone his evil thoughts and violent actions, we can at the very least understand that the environment he lives in is one that is not conducive for an individual that his share of problems. How De Niro did not win Best Actor for this performance was as much of a head-scatcher at the time as it is today. Parting Musical Gift As always, I leave you with a piece of music, in what's arguably one of the greatest movie themes of all-time. That is, of course, the 'Main Title' ("from Taxi Driver") by the late, great composer, Bernard Herrmann. The blues, jazzy nature of this theme is encompassing not only of the movie but as a throwback to New York's history of famous jazz bars and clubs. I hope you enjoy this towering musical theme as much I do. Your Thoughts What are your thoughts on my top 5 greatest Robert De Niro performances? Do you agree with this list or are there any other performances from De Niro's catalogue of movies that you would put on your top 5 list? Comment below, as I would love to hear your thoughts. All images above and their copyright belong to Brigitte Lacombe/Netflix, Columbia Pictures, United Artists, Paramount Pictures, Savoy Pictures any other respective owners. All YouTube content below and their copyright belong to Arista Records, Inc. and any other respective owners. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
2 Comments
Kay
4/4/2020 07:40:16
Robert De Niro created an awesome legacy for himself in the movie industry from his first performance to his current appearances, but for me the range of Gangsta and psychological thrillers such as Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Cape Fear, The Fan, Goodfellas etc have to top the list.
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Sunny
6/4/2020 11:40:42
Good choices for some of De Niro's all-time great performances. I nearly put Meet the Parents on my number 5 choice - underated performance. Also i'm still figuring how the comments settings work on my website, hence why i'm replying now.
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About MeMy name is Sunil Dhokia, I'm a movie fanatic and love all things Hollywood. Blog Archives
June 2020
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