Robert de Niro lays claim to being one of the pre-eminent actors of his generation. De Niro is a Hollywood titan with a plethora of Oscar nominations behind him and an array of other industry awards to his name.
Having turned 80 last summer, De Niro’s longevity in the industry pays testament to his undoubted qualities. With that in mind, let’s reminisce on five of the greatest De Niro films that left an indelible mark on cinematic history.
Stardust (2007)
Although this might arguably be a left-field choice as it was a rare fantasy movie featuring De Niro, Stardust became a 2000s cult classic in its own right. The premise of this film revolves around a fading star, who, as it transpires, is a young woman setting off on a wild and somewhat comedic adventure, and she is still sought after by a select few chasing her.
De Niro, meanwhile, plays the supporting character of Captain Shakespeare, who is the lead pirate on a flying ship. Despite his brief and sometimes fleeting moments, he catches the eye with the scenes he appears in, and it showcases his ability to act in a more light-hearted way.
Cape Fear (1991)
One of a handful of collaborations between De Niro and esteemed movie director Martin Scorsese, Cape Fear is one of those remakes that more than does justice to the original production.
Following on from the first Cape Fear that was released in 1962, the synopsis concerns a mastermind criminal who instigates a campaign of terror on a family after he is released from jail. Here, De Niro plays the fearsome criminal Max Cady, and his performance is a tour de force as he encompasses method acting at its finest.
Brazil (1985)
Dystopian sci-fi movies are rarely funnier or darker, for that matte,r than Brazil. The plot centers around a low-level bureaucrat who tries to escape the mundane nature of his job in a weird and wonderful futuristic world, but the lines ultimately become distorted.
De Niro, intriguingly, plays a plumber, and in preparation for the role, he shadowed a neurosurgeon in New York and sat in on an operation. While De Niro’s casting is a bit bemusing, it is still one of the best movies he’s appeared in.
The Irishman (2019)
A test of endurance for moviegoers as it spans over three-and-a-half hours, The Irishman is one of those epic productions that once again brings to the fore Scorsese’s directorial savvy as well as De Niro’s irrepressible acting abilities.
De Niro is cast as the aging hitman Frank Sheerhan, with continual flashbacks of the death-filled and alienated life that has come to define him. Again, De Niro steals the scenes, and the movie produces one of the most devastating final acts in memory. We’re pretty sure De Niro was proud of this one!
Goodfellas (1990)
If it’s iconic films that you are seeking, then Goodfellas should fit the bill. There’s a formidable cast featuring Ray Liotta as Henry Hill, who narrates and shares his experiences of becoming a mobster, including the highs and lows of leading such a nefarious lifestyle.
Meanwhile, De Niro and Joe Pesci excel with their portrayals of gangsters, and the latter won a well-deserved Oscar for his performance. This film is still talked about more than 30 years after it hit the big screen, and it remains one of the highlights of De Niro’s illustrious career.
Honorable mentions
De Niro’s standing as an actor can’t be understated, and with the myriad of movies he’s been involved with, not every one of them has been a smash hit. That said, there are a few honorable mentions, and although they packed a punch, they didn’t quite make the shortlist.
This includes Meet the Parents, Taxi Driver, and even Casino. However, with the latter, you won’t need to explore too many Australian online casinos to get a sense of the kind of establishments that De Niro and his comrades were operating in on the Las Vegas Strip during the 1970s—far removed from the reputable options available today.
This guide has picked out some of the finest De Niro movies that captivated the attention of cinema fans, and if you wish to rekindle some De Niro memories, the ones discussed on this page should act as a source of inspiration.