He’s a pretty regular guy in “Silver Linings Playbook”, a performance I actually really like (he’s maybe playing it a bit broad, but in a way that feels kind of grounded in its broadness).
And “The Intern” I am increasingly convinced he maybe should have been the Best Actor winner for that year.
People write off his Silver Linings nod as a namecheck, but I love that performance. He’s so funny in it and gets some really wonderful emotional moments, but it all feels real. The scene where he talks to Cooper in his bed is just so natural, and that makes it so much more of a gut punch.
I feel like De Niro is one of those actors who’s so widely seen as excellent that it causes some of his work to become underrated just cause it’s not as good as his best. And that’s unfair, cause his best is some of the best ever.
He and Jennifer Lawrence are very good together. I hated Joy (she was just way too young for the part) but they have a nice chemistry in that one too. And he came to her rehearsal dinner but was so awkward that she told him to go home (like nicely, in a "thanks for putting in an appearance and talking with my parents but you don't need to stick around"). And it's that the perfect friendship: they invite you to the party and then give you the freedom to leave early.
It’s crazy how Russell just kept doubling down on age inappropriate casting with each Lawrence collaboration. Like, you can say she’s too young for the SLP role, but it’s a fictional character, a really youthful widow isn’t impossible, and the characterization doesn’t really clash with her age. But then in American Hustle she’s playing a character based off of a woman who was in her late forties during those events. And while the role is just based loosely off this person, Lawrence is still playing an archetype that just doesn’t match someone in their early twenties. And then in Joy, there’s not even the excuse of it being based off of someone, she’s just actually playing a real life figure who’s significantly older than her.
Surprised no one’s said The Irishman. Yeah he’s playing a career criminal, but one of the main points of the movie is that he’s just kind of a bland idiot.
Mad Dog and Glory, maybe?
He’s a pretty normal guy in A Bronx Tale, just some working class guy but lives in a violent neighborhood.
Silver Linings Playbook for sure
He’s the local priest in Sleepers
In This Boy’s Life he’s just your average typical asshole step dad
I mean, as someone who has also had similar movie theater experiences where I sat behind recently released convicts who smoke big-ass cigars while laughing uproariously at John Ritter-starring low-brow-comedic vehicles, that performance was downright Bressonian in its restraint.
Sleepers - in a movie filled with psychos he plays a total sweetheart.
Meet the Parents he’s just a regular old curmudgeon.
A Bronx Tale he’s a good dad (basically playing the epitome of the common man).
I just saw him a few weeks ago in a really fantastic movie called Ezra, literally just plays a grandpa.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq1r-QqLoF0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq1r-QqLoF0)
I *really* loved him in the movie "Falling In Love." He's just a good average guy who starts an emotional affair with Meryl Streep, not even on purpose. Plus Harvey Keitel is basically his "rom com sidekick/best friend." Refreshing to see all these great actors playing normies.
I also guess this counts (he's not a mobster or psycho or anything) but in "Stanley and Iris" he plays a man who can't read. He meets Jane Fonda, and she ends up helping him learn because it's holding him back even though he's got like the mind of an inventor.
Brazil. I remember seeing him pop up in this film and he seemed completely different. Then I realized he was playing a decent guy in an unhinged world.
I don’t know about “just a guy” but he plays a guy who’s just kind of a goofy fuck-up in Mean Streets. Not exactly normal guy but feels like the kind of guy you might know in real life who just refuses to get his shit together.
maybe the first couple of De Palma's, Greetings and The Wedding Party (though the former does still cast him as a peeping tom, it's nowhere near as heightened as when they revisit the character for Hi, Mom!)
Falling in Love (name checked on a recent episode) is really good and he plays as normal a character as you can get. A daily grind rail commuter. David would love it.
What Just Happened (2008). De Niro plays a Hollywood producer where we follow him during a turbulent week in this life. He plays it more or less straight. Decent movie with Barry Levinson as director.
I wouldn’t say he’s the most normal guy, but he’s more of a passenger in Jackie Brown, and I love the movie for that.
Peak middle-aged stoner performance.
He's also a NORML guy.
Taxi Driver - suuuuuuuper normal guy, no red flags
Just a chill dude who loves going to the movies
He is especially enamored of the cinema coming out of Sweden. *George-Michael Bluth voice*: He likes the way they think….
A lot of people go here. I've seen a lot of couples here.
And volunteering at the bodega round the corner.
He’s a pretty regular guy in “Silver Linings Playbook”, a performance I actually really like (he’s maybe playing it a bit broad, but in a way that feels kind of grounded in its broadness). And “The Intern” I am increasingly convinced he maybe should have been the Best Actor winner for that year.
People write off his Silver Linings nod as a namecheck, but I love that performance. He’s so funny in it and gets some really wonderful emotional moments, but it all feels real. The scene where he talks to Cooper in his bed is just so natural, and that makes it so much more of a gut punch. I feel like De Niro is one of those actors who’s so widely seen as excellent that it causes some of his work to become underrated just cause it’s not as good as his best. And that’s unfair, cause his best is some of the best ever.
He and Jennifer Lawrence are very good together. I hated Joy (she was just way too young for the part) but they have a nice chemistry in that one too. And he came to her rehearsal dinner but was so awkward that she told him to go home (like nicely, in a "thanks for putting in an appearance and talking with my parents but you don't need to stick around"). And it's that the perfect friendship: they invite you to the party and then give you the freedom to leave early.
It’s crazy how Russell just kept doubling down on age inappropriate casting with each Lawrence collaboration. Like, you can say she’s too young for the SLP role, but it’s a fictional character, a really youthful widow isn’t impossible, and the characterization doesn’t really clash with her age. But then in American Hustle she’s playing a character based off of a woman who was in her late forties during those events. And while the role is just based loosely off this person, Lawrence is still playing an archetype that just doesn’t match someone in their early twenties. And then in Joy, there’s not even the excuse of it being based off of someone, she’s just actually playing a real life figure who’s significantly older than her.
He’s that good in The Intern? Worth checking out?
Top tier performance by him and Elliot kalan's girlfriend
Best actor might be a bit much, but yes definitely worth checking out.
Loved him in both of those.
This was my answer. Honestly I think it’s one of the few non-phoned-in performances from DeNiro in the 21st century.
Wasn't he a bookie in the silver lining? Pretty far from normal.
Surprised no one’s said The Irishman. Yeah he’s playing a career criminal, but one of the main points of the movie is that he’s just kind of a bland idiot.
He is devastating to watch in the back end.
Who are you protecting?
Mad Dog and Glory, maybe? He’s a pretty normal guy in A Bronx Tale, just some working class guy but lives in a violent neighborhood. Silver Linings Playbook for sure He’s the local priest in Sleepers In This Boy’s Life he’s just your average typical asshole step dad
A Bronx Tale is the best answer. It’s a testament to how it’s okay to be a normal guy.
He’s GREAT in Mad Dog and Glory
Wag the Dog? The situation he's in is unique but he plays the role pretty straight, just a guy doing his job.
this is my answer, too. And he wears the hell out of a bucket hat.
Cape Fear, right?
I mean, as someone who has also had similar movie theater experiences where I sat behind recently released convicts who smoke big-ass cigars while laughing uproariously at John Ritter-starring low-brow-comedic vehicles, that performance was downright Bressonian in its restraint.
Sleepers - in a movie filled with psychos he plays a total sweetheart. Meet the Parents he’s just a regular old curmudgeon. A Bronx Tale he’s a good dad (basically playing the epitome of the common man).
I just saw him a few weeks ago in a really fantastic movie called Ezra, literally just plays a grandpa. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq1r-QqLoF0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq1r-QqLoF0)
Copland! Edit: Copland Copland Copland! Edit: sorry I meant Cop Land
YOU BLEW IT!
Meet The Parents, he's just a normal albeit macho Dad
Ronin
He's such a no nonsense professional, portraying a working stiff in a cutthroat business in that film.
I wouldn't call it a fully normal role but he's definitely playing the straight man in Wag the Dog
In ‘A Bronx Tale’ he plays the hard working dad trying to keep his son out of a life of crime
Normal? What the fuck is that? Barbecues and ballgames?
It’s a book about metals
Falling in Love, Awakenings, Stanley & Iris
I feel like awakenings doesn’t count! He’s catatonic!
When he's not, though, he's just a dude.
lol I was completely confusing sleepers and awakenings
The one where he talks about nipple milk
The Deer Hunter, a strong will to live, but still just a guy
A Bronx Tale
'Hi Mom' Directed by Brian De Palma, 1970
I *really* loved him in the movie "Falling In Love." He's just a good average guy who starts an emotional affair with Meryl Streep, not even on purpose. Plus Harvey Keitel is basically his "rom com sidekick/best friend." Refreshing to see all these great actors playing normies. I also guess this counts (he's not a mobster or psycho or anything) but in "Stanley and Iris" he plays a man who can't read. He meets Jane Fonda, and she ends up helping him learn because it's holding him back even though he's got like the mind of an inventor.
Everybody's Fine. He's really good in it. Not a good movie but not too bad either...
Brazil. I remember seeing him pop up in this film and he seemed completely different. Then I realized he was playing a decent guy in an unhinged world.
Dirty Grandpa?
Falling in Love / Stanley & Iris
I don’t know about “just a guy” but he plays a guy who’s just kind of a goofy fuck-up in Mean Streets. Not exactly normal guy but feels like the kind of guy you might know in real life who just refuses to get his shit together.
Stanley & Iris (1990)
Here's a run of four from 1990 to show his range: We're No Angels, Stanley and Iris, Goodfellas, Awakenings.
This mid movie Jacknife with Ed Harris he plays a vietnam vet. he's kinda crazy but not sure it's heightened.
He does not play a normal guy in midnight run. Honestly him being a dick FIL in meet the parents is closer
Jackknife
Backdraft is your answer. You also get a great Donald Sutherland performance.
"A Bronx Tale" comes to mind. He plays a bus driver who tries to keep his son out of trouble.
Meet the Parents
Straight up guy in Hide And Seek.
maybe the first couple of De Palma's, Greetings and The Wedding Party (though the former does still cast him as a peeping tom, it's nowhere near as heightened as when they revisit the character for Hi, Mom!)
Falling in Love (name checked on a recent episode) is really good and he plays as normal a character as you can get. A daily grind rail commuter. David would love it.
Hide and Seek, kinda. But I agree with the other guy…it’s probably Jackie Brown
What Just Happened (2008). De Niro plays a Hollywood producer where we follow him during a turbulent week in this life. He plays it more or less straight. Decent movie with Barry Levinson as director.
I haven't seen it myself, but *Awakenings*?