Robert De Niro Movies: 1968-1978

I really need to see Mean Streets again. 

That's an interesting interpretation but I actually think there's something else going on here.

The movie is in two halves, with the scenes in the first half mirrored by scenes in the second half. The joy of the wedding celebration is mirrored by the sombre (non) celebration for the return of the DeNiro character in the second half. Likewise the comradery of the first deer hunting trip is mirrored by the tensions of the deer hunting expedition in the second half, as is the conrtrast with the involuntary particicipation of the Russian roulette scenes of the first and the voluntary participation in the second half.

I think this is primarily to highlight the effects of the trauma of going to war and how it fundamentally changes not only those directly involved with the experience, but also how it effects those they associate with on their return.

The optimism of the first half dissolves in the muted cynicism of the second half, highlighted by the singing of "God Bless America" at the end, which in turn is in contrast with the sing-a-long in the bar at the beginning.

To me it seemed like the European film makers of the '50's and '60's had an almost maniacal obsession with making their films all about anti-fascism whilst completely ignoring any so called entertainment value, and whilst I think that in itself is a noble and worthwhile thing, in the end I don't like to feel I'm being preached at.

Guillermo Del Toro learnt this and was able to make movies that were both anti-fascist and watchable, "Pans Labyrinth" being the culmination of this

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Hi,

I have never thought of anything in life as "too long" and that also goes for us as people, too!

Life is not something that we count down to a certain amount of time, in my book ... and this has been a theme in one of my novels when one person discusses herself and then then is given a thought ... a life is not one moment ... a life is from the day you were born to the day you were done. If all you remember is 5 minutes of it, you have lost most of your life and have no perspective.

A lot of folks disliked my review of "LA BELLE NOISEUSSE" a film that was 4 hours long, and half the folks at the Portland International Film Festival walked out on the film before intermission ... and all it tells you is that the beauty of watching a hand CREATE a piece of work was completely missed or (likely) just not wanted because we live in a throwaway society that dumps as fast as it creates!

Painting, by nature, is very slow, and probably the slowest of all arts. Writing might be next, though in my case it is the shortest, since I do not pre-meditate what I am writing about and simply follow that "internal movie" and let it develop on its own something that is beyond a lot of people's imaginations ... someone once asked me if I could handle not even thinking about this or that or such a situation ... and my only answer is ... I TRUST THE INNER SIDE of us, and what they do. It is at the core of a lot of theater, film, and many arts! Not as visible in painting and writing these days with so much stuff all just about commercial fire pool material.

And almost all of the reviews and work that I do, is about that internal light and where it might come from ... without there is no life worth living!!!!!

And here we are ... talking about film! How ironic!

Both films are wayayayayay toooooo looooooong, IMHO.

yes TDH is unbearable in the torture dept.

1900 is a pure yawner. 

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Hi,

It's a Bertolucci film ... and often the hard part in some of his films, is that they can be slow and sometimes a bit confusing, but they manage to make it through really well. The film itself, has Vittorio Storaro for cinematography and then Ennio Morricone for music ... and that is ... not to mention the insane cast ... a very high level of folks all around, which I'm sure Robert would have appreciated, even as an actor. 

I like Michael Cimino's The Deerhunter ... and his directing is incredible in this film, although it really is not exactly one of the most enjoyable things to watch, and sometimes it just ... comes off plain rough ... probably intentionally so, and something that Michael also did in his next film that few people like (Heaven's Gate), which is almost the same manner but in a different jungle ... one stolen by the authorities and government ... a piece of history as bad as what happened to all the native Americans that disappeared and were chased down!

In many ways, I find these films more important, but that is not to say that some of the others don't cut it. I guess I find that the stuff where Robert can "disappear" and just do his job is much better than the stuff where he is the top dog, and is supposed to shine above everyone else.

I have to admit that I have never really been a "fan" of the Godfather films at all! Aside from Brando's work, I find the whole thing a bit too much!