BEST ROBERT DE NIRO MOVIES
“Mean Streets” (1973) De Niro cemented his union with director Martin Scorsese with this gritty drama of a cut-rate mobster in New York’s Little Italy.
“The Godfather: Part II” (1974) De Niro moved into the movie mainstream, and earned his first Academy Award, as the younger Vito Corleone in flashbacks.
“Taxi Driver” (1976) Reteaming with Scorsese for a truly iconic performance, De Niro stars as Travis Bickle, malcontent cabbie and self-appointed protector of a young prostitute. Turner Classic Movies shows the film Saturday, June 25.
“The Deer Hunter” (1978) His part was the film’s least showy, but De Niro did much for this drama of several steel-town friends who go to war in Vietnam. “Raging Bull” (1980) With his physical transformation and a brilliant performance for director Scorsese, De Niro was not to be denied another Oscar as boxer Jake La Motta. “Once Upon a Time in America” (1984) Working for another renowned director, Sergio Leone, De Niro played a gangster reflecting on earlier experiences.
“The Untouchables” (1987) Though his actual screen time is limited, De Niro casts a long shadow as underworld legend Al Capone.
“Goodfellas” (1990) De Niro’s quiet confidence cloaks an inner rage as fatherly mob leader Jimmy Conway.
“Cape Fear” (1991) The role of vengeful ex-con Max Cady lets De Niro put his own shocking twists on a part originated almost 30 years earlier by Robert Mitchum.
“Heat” (1995) Both on his own and in his moments with Al Pacino, De Niro is superb as a master bank robber who ultimately pulls one job too many.
“Analyze This” (1999) De Niro smartly sent up many of his previous roles as a mobster seeking therapy from a nervous psychiatrist (Billy Crystal).
“Meet the Parents” (2000) In the start of a franchise that’s still going strong with “Little Fockers,” De Niro played an ex-CIA man who didn’t make things easy for his prospective sonin-law (Ben Stiller) during an eventful visit.
“Silver Linings Playbook” (2012) Not only did De Niro earn another Oscar nomination for playing Bradley Cooper’s father, there’s subtext to the performance since the actors are close in real life.
“The Intern” (2015) De Niro and Anne Hathaway make an engaging couple in writerdirector Nancy Meyers’ comedy about a hardcharging online fashion marketer and her surprising, much older new hire.