Skip to main content

Who is your favorite actor or actress of all time?

There are so many great actors and actresses to choose from, but one stands out prominently in my mind. Robert de Niro became my favorite after I saw him in one particular movie. No, it wasn't after seeing him play Jake Lamotta in "Raging Bull" or Vito Corleone in "The Godfather: Part II," the two roles for which he has garnered Academy Awards.

To be sure, he was brilliant in those roles and quite deserving of the Oscars he received, but he first caught my attention as the overbearing Jack Byrnes in "Meet the Parents." Since then, I have watched probably 20 or more of his movies. My favorite De Niro movie of all time is the heist thriller "Heat," starring De Niro, Al Pacino, and Val Kilmer. Other notables include "The Score," " Analyze This," "Midnight Run," "Casino," and "Goodfellas."

The reason I think he bests all the other Hollywood greats is because he offers more in the way of versatility. Whether he is playing the loving dad, sinister crime boss, or comical goon, he shines in practically any role he is given. In "Heat," he played the role of career criminal Neil McCauley so well that I had a hard time hating his character. You normally root against the villain, but De Niro was so convincing that I didn't want him to die in the end.

Only masterful actors like Bobby D can achieve that. To be honest, I haven't been nearly as impressed with his work over the last 10 or so years. I think his last great performance came in "Meet the Fockers." Let's be fair -- De Niro is 70 now, and I can only imagine he just doesn't have the energy -- nor the need, moneywise -- to take on big roles anymore.

But I don't think anyone can dispute that Robert de Niro is one of the best actors of all time. I plan to see him alongside Ann Hathaway in "The Intern" this weekend, which looks to be a lighthearted comedy.

Who is your favorite actor or actress of all time, and why?

For more posts, click here: How to Understand People

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...