Meeting Robert De Niro for the first time was one of the most shocking, yet formative, experiences of my life.
Nearly a decade ago, I found a VHS copy of Martin Scorsese’s 1976 film “Taxi Driver,” in my family’s garage, assuming it couldn’t be much different from the beloved television sitcom “Taxi.” I popped it into my TV and Robert De Niro’s performance blew my mind for the preceding two hours. Robert De Niro did something that my seven-year-old eyes had never seen; he made the dirty, filthy, rough and gritty look absolutely clear and beautiful.
Though my formal introduction to De Niro certainly could have been friendlier, Robert De Niro started his career in the late 1960s, an age where the independent film industry recently found success. With pictures like John Cassavetes’ “Faces,” and Dennis Hopper’s “Easy Rider,” gaining relative success and definite traction in the film industry, independent film was finding it’s niche.
In this new age of independence in filmmaking, De Niro slid into the world of film seamlessly. Robert De Niro’s first successful feature films were “Bang the Drum Slowly,” and “Mean Streets.” He starred as top-billing cast members in both. These films put De Niro on the map. His next film was a little ditty called “the Godfather part II,” and played the patriarch of the franchise, Vito Corleone.
In years following, Robbie D starred in various neo-noir films. Most memorable are his appearances in Martin Scorsese films; the aforementioned “Taxi Driver,” as well as “Raging Bull,” “the King of Comedy,” “Goodfellas,” and “Casino.”
De Niro’s track record is more extensive than I’m giving credit for, he has appeared in over 90 films, including dramas, comedies, and even horror.
Not only is the filmography of De Niro extensive, it’s extremely influential. According to Robert K. Elder in his book,”The Film That Changed My Life,” many of the big names in filmmaking today were inspired by De Niro’s films. John Woo, director of “Face/Off,” and “Mission: Impossible II,” was inspired by the film “Mean Streets.”
Elder reported that Richard Linklater, director of films such as “Dazed and Confused,” “School of Rock” and “Boyhood,” is often quoted as saying that “Raging Bull” was the film that inspired him to make films himself.
The apex of modern filmmaking, Quentin Tarantino, is quoted saying that “Taxi Driver” is amongst his top five favorite films according to the film blog, One Perfect Shot. Robert De Niro was even featured in Tarantino’s 3rd feature film “Jackie Brown.”
Despite his gradual decrease in popularity in the last 15 years (since Scorsese took Leonardo DiCaprio under his wing), Robert De Niro continues to act in films and is doing so successfully.
[quote]Robert De Niro did something that my seven-year-old eyes had never seen; he made the dirty, filthy, rough and gritty look absolutely clear and beautiful.[/quote] With his role in the “Meet the Parents,” franchise, as well as appearances in more serious films like “Silver Linings Playbook”—which got him nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor—Robert De Niro has not ceased to play a significant role in the film industry.
De Niro even won the American Film Institute’s lifetime achievement award, as well as the Golden Globes’ Cecil B DeMille award for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.
This man is undeniably one of the most successful, influential and unparalleled actors of all time, he had an amazing capability to bring an energy to the screen that no actor has ever been emulate, be it through crying to a therapist or swearing at a loan shark, De Niro’s presence and resilience in film is so powerful that it makes all of the mean streets look a little bit brighter.
Written by guest writer Roman Wolfe