What IS De Niro's best role?

[Billie Jean]

I've been watching a lot of Robert De Niro movies lately,some less popular titles to be honest (Mad Dog and Glory,Falling in Love) and I had this thought...I can't decide what his best performance is. Even amongst his major roles. With someone like Al Pacino I can mention The Godfather or ...And Justice for All because I had such a visceral reaction as a viewer,but I can't do that with De Niro. I simply enjoy him.

I'm starting to think I can't pick up on the nuances of his performances/acting style.

What do you think is De Niro's best role is and why? Can anyone break his skillfulness down to me?

 

[Nero Christ]

Raging Bull...he put his body thru hell to make that role as perfect as possible and on top of that, I think there's a level of fear with someone who isn't a gangster who's prone to fits of rage. I mean this role hits all the classic notes but it also separates itself from Goodfellas, Mean Streets, etc. You see a man really paranoid losing the people around him he needed the most. That's a level of depth you don't see with the gangster roles except for The Irishman & Casino.

I'd say his other top roles are The King of Comedy, Casino, Deer Hunter, GF2, and there's more

 

[BigMoneyGrip]

Sam Rothstein

 

[Baka's Weird Case]

i think travis bickle or jake lamotta

 

[Figaro]

 

[Throwbacksample]

Midnight Run and Jackie Brown

 

[Poetical Poltergeist]

Taxi Driver

 

[gho3st]

bytch ass Noodles

 

[Lootpack]

I’ll say Raging Bull, with his performances in Taxi Driver & The King of Comedy trailing behind closely. Prime De Niro had a hell of a run.

 

[Piff Perkins]

Raging Bull. Taxi Driver would be my second pick. What an insane run. Think about his 70s run...

Mean Streets
Godfather II
Taxi Driver
New York, New York
The Deer Hunter

...and then in the 80s...

Raging Bull
The King Of Comedy
Once Upon A Time In America
Brazil
The Untouchables
Midnight Run



He's the GOAT.

 

[MenacingMonk]

So hard to pick one.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

His range as Conway... Funny/charismatic.. Sad... paranoid... rage. He hit all the notes. He studied the real Jimmy to see how he ate or tied his tie or said things a certain way. it was perfection.

 

[Tommy Fits]

Travis Bickle... Dude legit drive a cab in 70's NYC to get into the role

 

[ORDER_66]

Heat
A Bronx tale
Taxi Driver
Silver Linings Playbook
This Boy's Life

 

[Tres Leches]

godfather 2 or raging bull