Best De Niro performance

[Faustus]

The fella gets a fair bit of stick these day (some of it justified) either for playing himself or caricatures of himself but, fuck me, the fella hasn't half been able to deliver an amazing performance in his time.

 

Writing this after only just watching Raging Bull for the first time last night and I'd say it's one of the best performances I've ever seen from an actor in a film. It's kind of similar to the 'chameleon' aspect that was alluded to on that thread Section started the other day about what makes a great actor. You could tell the fella just immersed himself in La Motta and despite the fella been a complete bastard, you're just drawn to him and feel compelled to carry on watching.

 

I think his performance in The King of Comedy also deserves a mention. My mate mentioned how it's his most under rated role, and I'm inclined to agree. Just creepy as fuck.

 

And bear in mind, the poll is asking what his best performance is and not what his best film is.

[Anny Road]

He was good in Cape Fear and obviously Godfather II

[Remmie]

Raging Bull, by quite distance. One of the greatest ever performances, in fact the best I've seen.

[Anny Road]

Where's Meet the Fockers? Shame on you.

[Bobby Hundreds]

Is it wrong to think de Niro is massively over rated. He's had some very good parts and he is a good actor. For me his most definitive role is in good fellas that scene at the bar where he's staring into the camera and sunshine of your love is playing. Quality scene.

[bri]

His new comedy roles are pretty cringe worthy, they all seem to be based around the "De Niro" thing. You can imagine on set directors asking him "do that fockers thing you do but with a bit of a gangster stare" instead of actually having decent writing. I'm guessing he does the most of em to wring out the franchise and pay the tax bill.

 

Comedy wise I think Midnight Run is ahead of the others.

 

But to be fair he's done a lot of good roles in all the classics mentioned above

[James Dean]

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[VladimirIlyich]

Thought the Analyze duo of films were excellent comedy crossover film performances.

Just the right mix of comedy with slightly sinister undertones.

Im sure The Sopranos situation was either ridiculed or was a different play on it(I cant remember the timeframes.)

 

His best serious role was Casino for me.

[KMD7]

Raging Bull. My favourite film with an astonishing performance from De Niro. Never been bettered in my opinion.

[KMD7]

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Brilliant clip.

[Pidge]

It's Raging Bull. I love Mean Streets and Taxi driver more, as films and characters for him, but they just aren't at the same level. Bickle and Pupkin are probably 2 and 3 for me.

[Kevin D]

I am going with Godfather part II. It is the best movie on that list and that is down in no small part to De Niro.

[Elite]

Goodfellas

[Carvalho Diablo]

Another vote for Raging Bull. The OP is right, one of the Greatest ever performances.

 

Also another nod for Midnight Run. Love that film and DeNiro's screen time with Grodin is pretty special.

 

Also enjoyed Mad Dog & Glory, both him and Bill Murray are great, very much cast against type. Uma's tits are boss too.

[KMD7]

Another vote for Raging Bull. The OP is right, one of the Greatest ever performances.

 

Also another nod for Midnight Run. Love that film and DeNiro's screen time with Grodin is pretty special.

 

Also enjoyed Mad Dog & Glory, both him and Bill Murray are great, very much cast against type. Uma's tits are boss too.

 

I loved that film too. Great casting. David Caruso was also excellent in it as De Niro's hard nut partner.

[Dr Nowt]

His new comedy roles are pretty cringe worthy, they all seem to be based around the "De Niro" thing. You can imagine on set directors asking him "do that fockers thing you do but with a bit of a gangster stare" instead of actually having decent writing. I'm guessing he does the most of em to wring out the franchise and pay the tax bill.

 

I think he pretty much completely finances TriBeCa Productions, the film company he co-founded in the late 80's and which is close to his heart. Seems it's been an exercise in just picking up cash to fund that for much of the time since, which coupled with his belief plucked from fuck knows where that he has said comedy chops, provides a recipe for turkeys Bernard Matthews would be proud of.

 

Probably displayed his best when his performances provided an object lesson in understatement. His sheer screen presence when playing silence has to be one of the finest sights in cinema - just eats up the camera. Read a book on him once which described that magnetism and the great tension it creates as humming like a plucked string.

 

So many great scenes; keeping his head during the underwater game of Russian Roulette in The Deer Hunter. "This is this", in the same film. Behind the wheel with Scorcese in the back for his cameo in Taxi Driver, completely dead pan while the brilliant black comedy plays out:

 

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De Niro barely flinching as he describes what shooting her in the pussy with a 44 magnum pistol will do to her cracks me up. Got to agree with Carvalho though, Uma's shirt potatoes would run any film pretty close in a vote.

[Lee909]

Thought the Analyze duo of films were excellent comedy crossover film performances.

Just the right mix of comedy with slightly sinister undertones.

Im sure The Sopranos situation was either ridiculed or was a different play on it(I cant remember the timeframes.)

 

His best serious role was Casino for me.

 

I enjoyed them as well.

[Mendoza]

Fucking love that scene. Apparently Scorsese only stepped in because the actor they hired had to pull out.

[Red22]

Taxi Driver was an unreal performance. Still think Pacino is better though, especially in the Godfather movies but also Scarface, Dog Day Afternoon etc.

 

Good poll would be who's better - De Niro or Pacino?

[KopOut]

Has to be The Deer Hunter

[withnail71]

The Deer Hunter. His prtrayal of Michael is outstanding.

[PestiRed]

too hard to choose just one

 

Edited January 10, 2013 by PestiRed

[Scott_M]

In the absence of Rock & Bullwinkle in the poll, I've voted for Godfather 2.

[Baldi]

Bit like choosing whose your favourite kid. To be fair in Goodfellas he was a great support in an ensemble cast. As Max Cady in Cape Fear he pretty much carried a mediocre remake with great cinematography and amazing editing my Thelma. Godfather 2 and Casino also great understated performances. I whittled to between Taxi Driver and Raging Bull...I went for Raging Bull, it was an amazing performance it has yet to be bettered.

[Mendoza]

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