A not-to-be-missed post by Jeremy at Moon in the Gutter.
I was especially interested by your observation that something “broke” in DeNiro after his work in the Once Upon a Time in America – and that he was never quite the same again. Very interesting thoughts. (Here’s my post on that butchered masterpiece.) And I’m glad to see King of Comedy getting some love. Taxi Driver Shmaxi Driver, I think Rupert Pupkin is DeNiro’s most chilling and brilliant creation. Recently, I was raving to my friend Ted about it – he hasn’t seen it and I was basically begging him to – and just thinking about the scene with Rupert in the basement surrounded by lifesize cardboard cutouts – is enough to make me want to commit myself into a mental institution for the weekend.
BRILLIANT acting. And absolutely different from anything else he had ever done (or has done since).
Thanks so much for your post.
To me, his best performance (Admittedly, there are a lot to choose from in his fabulous portfolio) was in his role as the young Vito Corleone. Maybe it’s because that was the first role I ever saw him in. It’s the one that always comes to mind first.
Great acting, i totally agree!! And what a challenge – to have to be a young Marlon Brando – who had already made such an indelible impression in the first Godfather. Not an easy task!! Not to mention doing the whole damn movie in Italian.
Great post – Midnight Run is such an underrated movie.
very badly paraphrased…
“Liza, Liza, there’s something about you when you come off the road. You’re glowing…”
I love this movie, but have never seen the entire film in one sitting. My profound discomfort and embarrassment FOR the characters, as Rupert tells his ‘friends’ that Jerry invited them into his home is too unbearable. I’ve seen enough snippets to piece it all together, but Deniro does SUCH a great portrayal of an eerily realistic fringe personality…I have to leave the room. The fault clearly lies in me, not this brilliant movie.
Bill – I have to watch half of the movie with my hand covering my eyes because I get so embarrassed for everyone involved – so you are not alone!
And let’s not forget his “New York, New York” triumph. The scene in the car when he’s rushing Minnelli to the hospital. They get into such a heated argument he begins banging on the steering wheel as if it were the side of her head.
BRILLIANT use of his architecture.
That scene, Alex, is one of my favorite scenes of his in his entire career. I saw it when I was a teenager – early teens, I think – before I really knew who he was – and that scene, in particular, was emblazoned on my memory forever. I still remember that gesture you describe. Incredible.
And she was no second-rate thang herself.