10 movies starring Robert De Niro that made history

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

These films have received prestigious awards and are included in authoritative film history and user lists.

Robert De Niro is one of the most important and best-known actors of the 20th century. He began his career with Martin Scorsese and starred with many of the leading directors of his time, for many years was an icon of the crime genre in cinema and over and over again opened new facets in multi-layered portraits of bandits, war veterans, eccentrics and beaten, but not broken by life, heroes.

1. Angry Streets

• USA, 1973.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

A dramatic story of four childhood friends who grew up on the outskirts of Little Italy - one of the criminal districts of New York. Trying to escape from the shadows of more influential elders and dreaming of becoming real mafiosi, they look for easy prey, do stupid things and spend their evenings in an alcoholic intoxication. Everything changes when the main thing that they have is at stake - friendship.

Wicked Streets is one of Martin Scorsese's first directing works, which brought him fame. Film included 1.100 best films of the XX century according to Village Voice / KinoPoisk

2. The 1,000 Greatest Films / They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They? (TSPDT) on many respected lists such as Village Voice's 100 Best Movies of the 20th Century, They Shoot Pictures, Don't They's 1,000 Best Movies of All Time, and Complete National Film Registry Listing / Library of Congress of US Films.

The role of the petty bully Johnny Boy brought the very young De Niro the National Society of Film Critics of America award and in many ways anticipated his future reincarnation in Taxi Driver.

2. Godfather - 2

• USA, 1974.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 202 minutes.
• IMDb: 9, 0.

Continuation of the story of the Corleone mafia clan. This time with two storylines. The first tells about the childhood and adolescence of the future head of the Vito clan, which he spent in Sicily and in the New York slums of the early 20th century. The second is about the difficulties that the clan is going through after the death of Don Vito.

The Godfather 2 was the first sequel in history to win an Oscar for Best Picture. It is ranked third on the famous IMDb Top Rated Movies / IMDb user list of 250 Best Movies by IMDb.

The role of the young Vito Corleone earned 31-year-old Robert De Niro his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

3. Taxi driver

• USA, 1976.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 114 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Travis Bickle, 26, is a Vietnam War veteran with no purpose in life. During the day he visits a porn cinema, and at night he works as a taxi driver due to chronic insomnia. Unable to establish normal relations with anyone, he cherishes only one dream - to cleanse the city of dirt and vice. Meeting with 12-year-old prostitute Iris pushes the hero to implement his plans.

In this classic Martin Scorsese film based on the scandalous script by Paul Schroeder, the young De Niro played one of the most iconic roles in his career - a traumatized war veteran with a mohawk on his head and a pistol in his hands, challenging a world that does not accept him. Filming in the film brought the actor not only a second Oscar nomination, but also worldwide recognition.

The picture itself received the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and since then has not left the lists of the best films of all times and peoples. The iconic scene in front of the mirror is one of the most recognizable episodes in the history of cinema.

4. Deer hunter

• USA, UK, 1978.
• Drama, military.
• Duration: 183 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

The film tells about the fate of three friends with Russian roots. Michael, Stephen and Nikanor work together in a steel mill in the northeastern United States and enjoy drinking and hunting. However, soon two exciting events are outlined in the peaceful existence of the heroes: Steve's wedding and the general call to Vietnam, which will change the lives of friends forever.

Director Michael Cimino's second film won a whopping five Academy Awards, including an Academy Award for Best Picture, and has earned a reputation as one of the main anti-war manifestos in history.

For his role in this film, De Niro was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Academy Award at the same time. The Russian roulette scene is still considered one of the scariest and most controversial in American cinema.

5. Raging bull

• USA, 1980.
• Drama, biography, sports.
• Duration: 129 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

The story of the rise and fall of American boxer Jake Lamotte, nicknamed Raging Bull: from the fight for the world welterweight title to a difficult relationship with his brother-trainer.

Martin Scorsese's tough black-and-white drama, based on the boxer's memoirs, made De Niro gain 27 kg (which was a record for that time) and really fight with his co-star Joe Pesci.

As a result, for the role of Lamotte, the actor received his second Oscar (for Best Actor) and the only Golden Globe in his career, and the picture itself is invariably included in all possible tops of the best films in the history of cinema. In particular, it is ranked number one in the Motion Picture Editors Guild's 75 Best Films List.

6. King of Comedy

• USA, 1982.
• Thriller, drama, comedy, crime.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

The aspiring stand-up comedian Rupert Papkin is absolutely mediocre, but convinced of the opposite. He also believes that popular host and comedian Jerry Langford will help launch his career. All you need to do is perform at Langford's Evening Show. However, the eminent presenter refuses Rupert over and over again. Desperate, the hero decides to commit a crime.

Martin Scorsese's unexpected appeal to the genre of tragicomedy at one time caused bewilderment among the majority of American viewers and found recognition only in England. The film received five Academy Award nominations.

However, years later, the attitude towards the picture was revised. Today, The King of Comedy is considered one of Scorsese's finest films and is ranked 11th on Beyond the Canon's 100 Films Deserving of Greater Attention / Beyond the Canon list of 100 Most Underrated Films. And the role of the cheerful dreamer Rupert Papkin is regularly mentioned among the main acting achievements of De Niro.

7. Once upon a time in America

• Italy, USA, 1983.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 229 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The story of friendship and betrayal of several childhood friends. New Yorkers have gone from petty bootleggers to prohibition-era criminal tycoons.

The last film of the founder of the spaghetti western Sergio Leone in American cinemas was cut and re-edited. Therefore, he did not gain fame either from the audience or from critics.

But the European version, which lasts almost four hours, has preserved the author's grandiose intentions and is considered one of the greatest gangster films in the history of cinema.

The role of David Aaronson, nicknamed Noodles, through whose eyes we observe the events of the picture, finally secured the role of a bandit with a tragic fate for De Niro.

8. Nice Guys

• USA, 1990.
• Drama, crime, biography.
• Duration: 140 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 7.

The story of Henry Hill, who dreamed of becoming a gangster since childhood, spans several decades. The viewer sees the hero as an errand boy with local authorities, and a participant in major scams with the legends of the gangster world - Jimmy Conway and Tommy De Vito.

The film became a hit in 1990 and a benchmark for crime films. The Nice Guys have been nominated for six Academy Awards and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Now the picture is listed in more than 40 film critics and user lists. It is ranked 17th in the Top 250 Top Rated Movies / IMDb by IMDb.

The role of unprincipled Jimmy Conway played by Robert De Niro became the apotheosis of the image of crime bosses in American cinema and set the fashion for brutal gangsters for 10 years to come.

9. Scrum

• USA, 1995.
• Action, thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 171 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Neil McCauley's gang is one of the best criminal gangs in Los Angeles, whose members have been linked by friendship for many years. But during the next raid on the collectors' car, the newcomer kills the guard and provokes unnecessary interest from law enforcement agencies. The most experienced police lieutenant Vincent Hannah is taking over the investigation.

Michael Mann's famous crime action not only became one of the most iconic films of the 90s, but also brought together two of the greatest actors of his generation, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, on one set. Previously, both starred in the second part of "The Godfather", but had never met face to face on the screen before. The scene in the cafe, like the film in general, has since been included in the textbooks on acting and directing.

10. My boyfriend is crazy

• USA, 2012.
• Drama, melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Former teacher Pat Solitano suffers from bipolar disorder. After eight months in a psychiatric hospital, he moves to his parents in the hope of improving relations with his ex-wife. Everything changes after meeting Tiffany, an eccentric girl who has lost her husband and dreams of winning a dance competition.

The only of De Niro's relatively recent works to receive widespread professional recognition. Moreover, many critics consider it as an artist's comeback in the full sense after a heap of walk-through comedies and unsuccessful casting decisions, in which he participated for more than 10 years.

For the role of Pat Solitano Sr., Robert De Niro deservedly received his first Oscar nomination since 1992.