Happy 68th Birthday, Robert De Niro! What's His Best Paycheck Role?

robertdeniro-bday-300.jpgOn August 17, 1943, Robert De Niro was born in New York City to parents Robert De Niro Sr. and Virginia Admiral. Over the course of the next six decades, the younger De Niro rose to become one of the most acclaimed actors in the history of Hollywood, as well as a paycheck player seemingly willing to star in anything. (Hello, New Year's Eve!) In honor of Bobby's big birthday, let's celebrate the less-lauded performances he's given in his career. What's Robert De Niro's finest slumming performance?

When it comes to De Niro's paycheck roles, separating the wheat from the chaff is a bit simple. On the one hand, you've got your Rocky and Bullwinkles and Hide and Seeks -- films that are truly without many redeeming qualities ("Come out, come out, wherever you are," notwithstanding). On the other hand, you've got Meet the Parents, Analyze This and Limitless -- films that range from "not bad" to "not bad!" where De Niro gives invested performances that sells the material.

Everyone knows the great Robert De Niro performances are truly great -- you can't go wrong when choosing from a list that includes The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy and Awakenings among many others -- but which of those B-squad De Niro performances are your favorite?

Wish the greatest living actor a happy birthday in the comments section below and sound off. (It has to be Meet the Parents, right?)



Comments

  • AS says:

    So many to choose from as of late. I think it's got to be the horrendously awful Righteous Kill.

  • Andrey Min'kov says:

    He has grown old.

  • Martini Shark says:

    Fearless Leader -- "Rocky and Bullwinkle" -- suck it!

  • Tommy Marx says:

    My favorite Banarama song is "I Heard A Rumor", but "Robert De Niro's Waiting" is definitely my second favorite. I wish that De Niro still existed. He's one of the last people I would have thought would sell out. Sometimes he seems as bad as Michael Caine, but at least Michael has a sense of humor about it.
    If I were to pick his worst "for the money" movie, it would be a tie between "The Fan" and "Hide And Seek".

  • S.T. VanAirsdale says:

    I really liked him in _Machete_.

  • j'accuse! says:

    Seconded.

  • DEBORAH DELANO says:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU ARE ONE OF THE GREAT ONES

  • R. Gonzalez says:

    I guess acting is like any other profession; There comes a time when a person should retire. I never thought it applied to the profession of 'acting'. It obviously does. De Niro's performances get worse and worse as time goes by. He reminds me of a GREAT pound for pound boxing world champion that does not know when to quit and hang up his gloves. I can compare him to a Julio Cesar Chavez, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., etc. De Niro's last great performance was 'Men of Honor' (2000) or maybe even 'The Score' (2001). In my opinion De Niro is like an old washed up boxer that should have retired as Champion, but didn't. He has been losing badly for the past
    decade.

  • asim says:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY .....u r my favorite actor...love u and ur acting since i saw heat ..stay blessed.

  • happygolucky says:

    Inspirational movie night brought to me by ML. . .We're No Angels.
    Happy Birthday to both!

  • Usherette says:

    To quote Max Bialystock, "Too good."

  • Melinda says:

    I love you, you are a beautiful motherf***!, one of my dreams in life is to meet u :), hott stuff!