De Niro: No longer brilliant? Recent Films underming his legacy status? [View All]

Earlier this year, the Independent Film Channel ran a quiz show in which one of the movie-trivia categories was “Robert De Niro Sells Out.”

One of the questions involved his appearance as Fearless Leader in a live-action version of “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.” Alas, it was hardly the only turkey under consideration. Indeed, the list of De Niro bombs has grown daunting.

Anyone care to remember “The Fan,” “Backdraft,” “Showtime” or (groan) "15 Minutes" and "Flawless"? In some of these, he was the central figure, in others part of an ensemble. In none of them did he suggest that he was once widely regarded as one of the best actors in the world.

There was a time when a new De Niro movie was an event, and he seemed to earn Academy Awards nominations just for showing up on a set. He won two Oscars, in 1975 and 1981, but it’s been more than a decade since the Academy voters have singled him out for a nomination.

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