When people look back at the history of great actors a few centuries from now, the one name that’s guaranteed to be on the list is going to be Robert De Niro. The Italian-American is widely regarded as one of the best actors of the generation, earning two Academy Award wins as a recognition of his mastery of the craft. With a career spanning more than five decades, 140 odd films, and numerous awards, De Niro is no stranger to fame and success, and much to the joy of all cinephiles, shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Here are some of his best movies, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes.
10 Silver Linings Playbook (2012) - 92%
A lot of films tend to go over the top in their approach to sensitive issues like mental illness. The films either deploy overly-sympathetic strategies to put forth a harsh point, or just beat around the bush without really shooting straight and saying things as they are. David O. Russell sidesteps this in Silver Linings Playbook and authentically depicts the love and chaos that takes place in a dysfunctional household, revolving around a son that's back from rehab. Robert De Niro endearingly plays the role of the aging patriarch, Pat Sr. who uses brings with him a much-needed injection of humor and wit to cut through his son's eccentricity.
9 American Hustle (2013) - 92%
Very few actors have the ability to impact a film with just a cameo appearance and be remembered for it. Robert De Niro did just that in David O. Russell’s American Hustle. Though the legendary actor isn’t credited in the film, it didn’t reduce the overall impact of his cameo. Funnily enough, De Niro’s involvement in the film was so contained, that he shook Christian Bale’s hand without recognizing him due to his character’s getup, causing a bit of a laugh on set.
8 Raging Bull (1980) - 93%
For a film that won him his second Academy Award, Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull deserves to be at a higher position on the list. Scorsese’s boxing drama goes way beyond the ring and documents the most important challenge a fighter must go through: himself. De Niro gives birth to a flamboyant Jake LaMotta, a man that’s difficult to stop in the ring and impossible to stop outside of it.
7 Midnight Run (1988) - 95%
Midnight Run is a glaring example of a time when Hollywood used to be both artistic and entertaining. Driven by a dual engine of two motivated actors with great chemistry, high-intensity action scenes, and some hilarious moments, Martin Brest’s film still holds water when compared to the more diluted films of the buddy comedies of the current generation.
6 The Irishman (2019) - 95%
The Irishman was Martin Scorsese’s love letter to the '70s gangster films, powered by some of his closest creative collaborators. A key differentiating factor that makes The Irishman standout from his other films is that Scorsese, along with his leading man De Niro, approach the world of crime with detached maturity. The film is indicative of a shift in perspective when compared to their older collaborations, yet has the old world charm and sensibilities of the Mafia.
Despite being at the other end of their careers, it’s safe to say that the iconic actor-director pair has still got it.
5 Mean Streets (1973) - 96%
Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets is often credited as the film that kicked off Robert De Niro’s career. Through his film, Scorsese wanted to create a contrast to Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather and depict the underbelly of life of average Italian Americans. Along with cinematographer Kent Wakeford, Scorsese used the Arriflex 35BL, a silent handheld camera, to craft out extensive handheld shots and document the raw reality of the streets.
4 Taxi Driver (1976) - 96%
Actors are mortal, characters are immortal. Robert De Niro’s portrayal of anti-hero Travis Bickle is one such character that’s eternally sketched in the mind of anyone who sees Taxi Driver. The film serves as a brilliant character study of a man’s descent into madness fueled by urban loneliness, with stylistic elements of Neo-noir paired with a haunting score.
3 Goodfellas (1990) - 96%
When compared to Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver and Jake LaMotta from Raging Bull, Goodfellas' Jimmy Conway seems a little emotionally malnourished. But that’s not at De Niro’s discretion as much as it is on Scorsese. Despite not being a central character in Scorsese’s Mafia epic, Conway blends into the fabric of the narrative and provides a certain sense of stability to balance the overall dynamic of the film.
2 The Godfather, Part II (1974) - 96%
Taking over the baton from the brilliant Marlon Brando, The Godfather, Part II, charts the rise of Vito Corleone, played by an emotionally-charged De Niro. Despite not being as well received as the first part, De Niro does more than enough to save the day by his gentle yet assertive demeanor as he breathes a fresh breath of life into Vito Corleone.
1 Brazil (1985) - 98%
A bit of a shocking entry at first place, Brazil is one of De Niro’s lesser-known films when compared to the likes of Taxi Driver and Heat. The film offers an Orwellian glimpse into an alternative time and walks on the same path as Orwell’s 1984. The film is difficult to follow, with the characters flowing in and out of the narrative like a lucid dream, but given the nature of the film, that could be just what director Terry Gilliam was aiming for.
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