Best Two: Robert De Niro

[SK]

Inspired by looking at the archives and the 'best two' threads for wrestlers, I thought I'd steal the idea and apply it to actors/ directors. Before I start can I just ask that people don't make 100 different threads for other actors straight away, it's very annoying and doesn't allow for good discussion in the original threads. I'm not saying don't ever do it, but lets at least try and get some decent discussion before we start to make new threads.

Now, the first actor that I've picked is my favourite actor of all time, a hugely popular and critically acclaimed actor in a wide variety of genre's playing a lot of different roles, ladies and gents; Robert De Niro.

So, in your opinion, what are the best two performances that Robert De Niro has given us? Now the quality of the overall film doesn't particularly matter, the more important is the performance that the actor gives, you can also factor in the film genre and the actual character if you'd like. However, I'm not the one deciding, so use any criteria you'd like, but obviously feel free to challenge others picks.

Now let me refresh your memory of some great De Niro performances, I'm not going to list them all, just a few that I think are very good.

# The Godfather II
# The Deer Hunter
# Goodfellas
# Raging Bull
# Taxi Driver
# Heat
# Cape Fear
# Casino
# Meet the Parents
# Ronin

Now, for my picks; I'm going with maybe a bit of an odd choice in Cape Fear, I loved this film, but for me, De Niro made it. De Niro portrayed the madman perfectly, I truly bought into him as a psychopath, but also as an intelligent man set on revenge. This role for me, showed that De Niro could act in any type of role, giving us some great scenes in this film and great monologue. De Niro even got nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (just losing to Anthony Hopkins), I think that De Niro was so good in this film to me because he made the role his own and showed his variety in acting roles.

My second pick would be Raging Bull, not such an odd one really, if you've seen this film, you'll know why I picked it. De Niro is fantastic in this film, portraying Jake LaMotta, showing his boxing career, and how his rage and jealousy affected his family life, he gives such an amazing performance in this film and meshes so well with Pesci, acting as his brother and manager. De Niro's performance was so good in this film he won the Academy Award for Best Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.

Anyway, that's enough of my picks, what do you think are De Niro's best two performances? Please remember this is a non-spam thread, remember to explain why you made your choice, but feel free to debate other members choices. What are Robert De Niro's best two?

 

[NSL]

As great as De Niro has been in so many movies, my two favorite from him are Taxi Driver and Goodfellas. Taxi Driver saw him play something that wasn't a mobster early in his career, and he portrayed one of the greatest characters ever. He was deep, dark, and clearly psychotic, but had you liking him before the middle of the movie even hit.

In Goodfellas, he was playing a typical mobster, but took the role to a whole new level. Being based on a real guy, he couldn't go over-the-top, and he didn't. He just played it better than anyone else could, and probably better than anyone else in the movie played theirs.


Good thread

 

[Henry Hill]

As you can tell from my overall posting persona, Goodfellas is one of my favorite movies. He had a truly great performance in this movie. Jimmy Conway was the perfect charismatic criminal and DeNiro nailed it to "T." The other movie that he does an incredible job is Taxi Driver. His disturbing downfall is incredible. Great thread, btw.

 

[jmt225]

Hmmm... I would have to go with Raging Bull and Goodfellas.

Raging Bull is one of my all time favorite films, and De Niro's performance is absolutely flawless in it. I personally feel it's one of the greatest performances of all time. I mean, from the fact that his boxing mannerisms were perfect, to his outburst on his wife and brother, and the final act as a fat, lame, hack stand-up comedian... that was as demanding of a role as anyone could ever get and De Niro hit it head on and no one could have done it better. Plus, the film overall just includes everything you could ever want in a movie... drama, violence, and comedy. Such a fantastic film.

As far as Goodfellas... it's obvious why this makes the list. It's perhaps the most entertaining film of all time.

However, while Cape Fear isn't as good of movie as Goodfellas... I would still have to say De Niro's performance in it as Max Candy is my second favorite performance from him. He was beyond awesome in that movie.

 

[bealzer1010]

Its such a hard choice with him, but I m gonna go with Godfather II / This Boys Life

GodFather II - Him as Young Vito Corleone were the best parts of the film, I always thought it was ashame they never got a prequel of the Godfather staring him since he won an Academy Award for his role.The rise of Vito Corleone was such a focal point for the first two movies, and he did it just brilliantly. I still think that was his best performance in a mob movie!

This Boy's Life - He played the role of an abusive father/husband to the tee in this film. I think this is one of those movies thats underrated and a lot of people probably never seen it.

Men of honor, A Bronx Tale, and Analyze This I'm gonna give a honorable mention to!!