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Silver Linings Playbook
A Bronx Tale
A Bronx Tale
A Bronx Tale
A Bronx Tale
A Bronx Tale
He Got Game
Cape Fear
Cape Fear
Cape Fear
Cape Fear
Film credit
Robert De Niro
Also referred to as De Niro, DeNiro, Denaro, De N'Or, Bob
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 16
- Movies in this archive
- 23
Rewatchables episodes featuring Robert De Niro’s films
The Godfather Part II
1974 film
Bill Simmons · Sean Fennessey · Chris Ryan · Brian Koppelman
Aired December 17, 2019
Displaying episodes 13 - 16 of 16 in total
Mentioned in discussions
The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film
Danny’s overlapping role, disputed
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:31Read transcript
- Chris Tucker’s Danny is proposed as weak link because his friend role overlaps Ronnie’s and his trips from Baltimore strain plausibility, not because of the performance.
- Others defend Tucker’s wounded, off-kilter performance, the destabilizing humor of his visits and his jailhouse-lawyer exchange with De Niro; a hoped-for dramatic lead career did not follow.
Probably Unanswerable Questions
De Niro marriages; car-bomb culprit; Scorsese version; Bronx bikers
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:42:02Read transcript
- De Niro’s unusually normal screen marriage is compared with Stanley & Iris and Heat.
- The car-bomb planter remains unresolved among the bikers, Sonny’s eventual killer and a rival crew.
- A hypothetical Scorsese-directed version with De Niro as Sonny is expected to be more cinematic and thrilling, though the existing film’s straightforward ease is also valued.
- The bikers’ reason for visiting and attacking a Bronx bar is questioned.
Just One Oscar
Chazz Palminteri, supporting actor
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:39Read transcript
- Palminteri’s supporting performance receives the selections, with De Niro praised and screenplay considered too sparse.
Apex Mountain
Lillo Brancato; Chez Bippy; Italian social clubs
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:46Read transcript
- De Niro and Pesci are rejected; Brancato is accepted, while Palminteri’s peak is disputed between this passion project, The Usual Suspects and the following Bullets over Broadway nomination.
- Chez Bippy and Italian social clubs are accepted. — Bill Simmons
- Craps scenes are disputed in favor of Casino; father-son films are in the conversation but not the peak. — Bill Simmons
- Narducci’s peak is assigned to The Sopranos and Italian films are rejected.
- Racists burning alive is proposed but Django Unchained’s ending is preferred.
- Movie bus drivers are disputed between this film and Speed.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:40:20Read transcript
- Ebert’s four-star response praises the humor, emotion, characters and De Niro’s tonal control. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Best?
De Niro’s vulnerability; marriage; thunderbolt romance; Capra; refusing mob money; music; stickball; baseball; narration; cast; mob dialogue; interracial romance; persistent social codes
In the discussion (10)
Approx. transcript time · 00:35:10Read transcript
- De Niro’s varied early-1990 s work is praised, especially Lorenzo’s unusually vulnerable ordinary-man presence.
- Lorenzo’s marriage is unusually functional for a De Niro character.
- The sudden romantic thunderbolt is linked with The Godfather and Goodfellas. — Bill Simmons
- Young C’s hair and Francis Capra’s performance are praised, with his Veronica Mars work recalled. — Bill Simmons
- Good guys refusing mob offers of $150 a week to drop off numbers are admired. — Bill Simmons
- The Sinatra and doo-wop soundtrack and stickball montage are praised. — Bill Simmons
- Baseball nostalgia and the scale of historic records before today’s crowded sports landscape are appreciated. — Bill Simmons
- The narration works, Zero is a good nickname, Hicks is compelling and the young cast is strong.
- Mobsters telling people to get out remain reliably funny.
- The interracial relationship is contrasted with more common modern depictions; racism and anti-snitching codes remain recognizable. — Van Lathan
Half-Assed Internet Research
Palminteri’s deal; budget; composite Sonny; childhood killing; casting Eddie Mush
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:33:06Read transcript
- Palminteri reportedly held out for the right to play Sonny in adapting his one-man show; De Niro’s enthusiasm and commitment secured the deal.
- The stated budget is$10 million and gross$17.3 million; De Niro’s Tribeca production involvement is emphasized. — Bill Simmons
- Sonny reportedly combines two real people, while Palminteri witnessed a childhood killing and had a bus-driver father named Lorenzo. — Bill Simmons
- The real Eddie Mush was reportedly cast after a search, and rain halted filming on his first day. — Bill Simmons
- A supposed Schneider biker cameo is denied; De Niro reportedly obtained a bus license but was not permitted to drive for filming. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
John Tortoro as high-school coach; Robert De Niro or Al Pacino as TechU coach
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:38:08Read transcript
- John Tortoro is proposed as the high-school coach instead of the college coach. — Bill Simmons
- Robert De Niro is proposed as an older TechU coach with Dean Smith-like weight. — Bill Simmons
- Al Pacino is offered as another high-profile TechU coach for the single scene. — Bill Simmons
Producer review
Fantastic and very rewatchable except the difficult Lewis scene; an overqualified genre director is like The Menu’s cheeseburger
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:08Read transcript
- Craig explicitly invited: fantastic and very rewatchable except difficult Lewis scene; overqualified director making genre film likened to cheeseburger in The Menu. — Craig Horlbeck
- Craig prefers De Niro here to Pacino in Scent of a Woman, because he disappears into the character despite fame. — Craig Horlbeck
Who Won the Movie?
De Niro (agreement; voter count unresolved)
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:33:53Read transcript
- De Niro selected with agreement over usual director choice because Max Cady is iconic; unique voter count unresolved. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?
De Niro bikini lighter, Mustang and Sam’s seersucker suit
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:32:58Read transcript
- De Niro bikini lighter, Mustang and Sam’s seersucker suit are distinct choices. — Chris Ryan
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Lee’s apparent attraction on the boat is disputed
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:25:17Read transcript
- Lee’s apparent attraction on boat questioned; others read focused, desperate distraction and praise Lange in this scene.
- Five candidate great De Niro death scenes offered: Heat, Taxi Driver, Joker, Jackie Brown and Cape Fear; no ordered ranking. Jackie Brown warmly endorsed. — Bill Simmons
- Investigator’s spare time prompts sports-fan fantasy awaiting Hornets and Larry Johnson draft, with reported 1991 first pick.
- What to learn during fourteen years in prison: useful reading and law plus cigarette-supply role for protection; doctor suggestion corrected to lawyer, then priest / coding / impression-practice alternatives.
Displaying discussions 13 - 24 of 113 in total
Films in the archive
Raging Bull
1980
Ronin
1998
Silver Linings Playbook
2012
Taxi Driver
1976
The Deer Hunter
1978
The Godfather Part II
1974
The Intern
2015
The Irishman
2019
The King of Comedy
1982
The Untouchables
1987
This Boy's Life
1993