I would look like this too if I picked some of the films De Niro has latley |
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THE DEPARTED is quickly moving on up in the world. It is already number 60 on IMDB's Top 250 films after only being out for a week. It did what some thought was impossible and beat out a horror film on a Friday with TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING. People are saying this will finally be the film that gets Marty his long awaited Oscar win. People are saying it is the best film of the year. It has been the best reviewed film of the year.
Yet, I can't help but miss Robert De Niro during all of this.
Marty can throw at us all the big names that he wants. And he sure has. DiCaprio. Damon. Nicholson. Wahlberg. Sheen. Baldwin. Even Anthony Anderson. Okay, maybe not. You can throw anyone in the mix and if it ain't De Niro and Scorsese mixing it up, I'm just not feeling it like I normally would with Scorsese. On the same token, when I see De Niro muddle around in comedies, bad thrillers, and lazy pictures, I yearn for Marty to join up with him as well. As the 1996 cliche goes "You complete me."
De Niro and Scorsese complete each other.
They have collaborated with each other on 8 films. All 8 films if not all of them are considered some of the best films ever made. When a director and actor can have mutual respect, equal work habits, and dedication you can see what 
You are above this Marty! |
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comes out of it. Yet, I can't help but feel a lot of the magic with the two men has gone away since they have been doing other projects. De Niro did HEAT in 1995, which I consider his last great picture. That is over 11 years since a great De Niro film. What was the film right before that though? It was CASINO which was another great Scorsese/De Niro project.
Take a look at some of De Niro's career choices since HEAT and CASINO.
He did team up with Quentin Tarantino for 1997's JACKIE BROWN, but I can't help but feel like De Niro/Tarantino did not live up to the hype or have the sensation it should have had. It was a good picture, don't get me wrong. But it didn't gel in the way you would expect from those two. Before that, he did 1996's SLEEPERS, which had an amazing cast, but again didn't produce the results you would expect from everyone involved. It was a little too long and too much.
Also, in 1997 was COP LAND with Ray Liotta, Harvey Keitel, Sylvester Stallone, and others. Again, considering all of the talent involved, you can't help but feel this film was a flop. He did WAG THE DOG with Hoffman, which was pretty good, but none of these films have had the classic feel of a Scorsese/De Niro project. The type of film that is an instant cinema classic and on 
Ah, the good old days. I was only 5 when this came out. |
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everyone's Top 10 films of all time. I think every film critic or buff has at least one Scorsese/De Niro project on their list. If not, you are not a fan of film.
Scorsese has done some Oscar fare since De Niro has left his side. GANGS OF NEW YORK and THE AVIATOR come to mind. He also chose his new De Niro with Leonardo DiCaprio. Even though Scorsese has put his stamp of approval on him, I am not buying what Scorsese is selling with him. He does not have the rough and gruff appearance of De Niro or the method acting of De Niro down. He is a fine actor I suppose, but not a guy that will make you rush out to see his latest performance.
I'd say Scorsese is doing better out of the two as far as quality work is concerned. Scorsese will always do good work, but what about classic work? He needs De Niro for that. De Niro is doing fine money wise, but as they say money can't buy happiness. Come on Robby! Get together with Scorsese and give us one final amazing piece of cinema to remember both of you by. I don't want my last memory of De Niro to be having a boob on him from MEET THE FOCKERS. I also don't want my last Scorsese memory to be working with DiCaprio. No offense, sir.
De Niro and Scorsese won't be around forever.
Get together for a final project before it is too late.
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| Tony Farinella |
Tony is an Oak Lawn, IL based film reviewer and columnist looking to have fun and share his unique views on film with everyone. Tony also has an unhealthy obsession with Vanessa Lengies, but that is neither here nor there.
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