The 10 most pretentious movies of the 1970s
They were too high on their own supply.
Robert De Niro
Few would contest that the American actor Robert De Niro is one of the best ever to grace the silver screen. A regular collaborator of director Martin Scorsese, De Niro has also had the pleasure of working with such filmmakers as Quentin Tarantino, David O. Russell, Todd Phillips, Matthew Vaughn, Michael Mann, Brian De Palma, Terry Gilliam, Sergio Leone, Michael Cimino and many others.
However, his career began with Scorsese appearing in ‘Mean Streets’ in 1973, shortly followed by ‘Taxi Driver’ three years later when he collaborated with such actors as Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel and Albert Brooks. Sandwiched in between these collaborations, however, was a turn with Francis Ford Coppola in ‘The Godfather: Part II’, where he won an Oscar alongside Diane Keaton, Al Pacino and Robert Duvall.
Success naturally followed, with ‘New York, New York’ in 1977, ‘The Deer Hunter’ with Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep and John Cazale in 1978 and ‘Raging Bull’ in 1980 with Joe Pesci. Even when his career looked to be dying down in the 1980s, De Niro continued to impress, working with Sergio Leone in ‘Once Upon a Time in America’, Sean Connery and Kevin Costner in ‘The Untouchables’, and starring in Scorsese’s ‘Goodfellas’ in 1990. Known as one of the greatest gangster movies of all time, ‘Goodfellas’ remains an utter classic, thanks to performances from De Niro, Pesci, Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco.
By 1997, De Niro had earned two Academy Awards and six nominations, and more were to follow after he starred in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Jackie Brown’ with Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton and Danny DeVito. Proving that he was still worthy of greatness, De Niro’s role would be one of his final iconic characters before his career took a turn in the new century, turning to more comedic, family-friendly roles.
His most celebrated roles of the era include 2004s ‘Meet the Fockers’ with Dustin Hoffman, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson, 2011s ‘Limitless’ with Bradley Cooper and his ensemble part in 2011s ‘New Year’s Eve’ with Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron and Hilary Swank. Later, he would work again with Scorsese in ‘The Irishman’ and also take to superhero movies, appearing in Todd Phillips’ movie ‘Joker’ alongside Joaquin Phoenix.
Despite over half a century on the silver screen, De Niro still impresses in every role, deservingly retaining his title as one of the very best.
The “hysterical” 2008 movie scene Robert De Niro could barely shoot: “It cracked me up every time”
Shame it flopped massively.
What separates a filmmaker from a “real director”, according to Martin Scorsese
Risked it all to show his versatility.
How a young Idris Elba almost scammed his way to Robert De Niro in the ’90s: “I got kicked out”
Wanted an audience with a mob movie legend.
The 2001 scene Robert De Niro called the most stressful of his career: “I was terribly anxious”
Had to step in under challenging circumstances.
The 1988 movie Matt Damon can quote “every line” of: “Definitely a favourite”
“That was definitely a favourite.”
