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AIBU?

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To think it's sad that Robert De Niro has stooped so low?

152 replies

Brightnorthernlights · 09/01/2016 23:04

An ad for Robert De Niros' new film 'Dirty Grandpa' has just been on TV. AIBU to be sad that such a great actor with a fantastic back catalogue of films has stooped so low as to be involved in such a revolting, crappy project?

He doesn't need the money, gets a lot of press exposure and surely gets offered roles better than this, so WHY?

Why do such great Actors do this?

OP posts:
Merrylegs · 10/01/2016 00:01

No no he is actually OK in Joy. (Which has a great plot btw -woman invents self-wringing mop and sells it on QVC. And doesn't end up with the bloke. It's awesome.)

squoosh · 10/01/2016 00:03

Mmmmcake Travis hunting Bob down will be the latest thing in dystopian thrillers. Michael Corelone would give Al a run for his money too.

Mmmmcake123 · 10/01/2016 00:13

Agree squoosh, would love a Looper style plot just for fun, but can't think of a great ending....

YouTheCat · 10/01/2016 00:18

Looper style... they both end up hunting each other, ultimately giving up to smoke some weed and eat some cheesy snacks whilst the world explodes.

mmack · 10/01/2016 00:53

He could need the money-he has 4 children and maybe he lost a lot in the recession.

squoosh · 10/01/2016 01:00

Apparently he has a 4 year old!

WahhHelpMe · 10/01/2016 01:10

I quite liked the intern HmmBlush

dustarr73 · 10/01/2016 01:28

I think hes hit the "Glass Ceiling" that many actresses hit when they are 28
40.Hes at the age that he cant act the tough guy without it being in a comedy.

Which is a pity because hes a really astounding actor.

Adam Sandler is shite,i cant understand where he gets his fans from.Awful.

Mmmmcake123 · 10/01/2016 01:36

Ben Stiller, v good.
Adam Sandler, no appeal, I suspect he appeals to young American males.

Mmmmcake123 · 10/01/2016 01:37

No offence to young American males, especially not you Channing Tatum, if you're reading hahaha

becksblue · 10/01/2016 02:41

It's not my cup of tea and does appear to be a waste of his talent but at least it's a film. What I can't stand is when big names do crappy TV ads. In the same ad break I saw Nicole Kidman in a vitamin ad then on a date with a meerkat!

TheDowagerCuntess · 10/01/2016 02:57

Beavis, Butthead, and all the blokes people who thought The Hangover and its sequels were the height of comedy will go to see it. Enough said.

SevenOfNineTrue · 10/01/2016 03:12

Maybe he finds this type of film funny personally so wanted to do it.

Mmmmcake123 · 10/01/2016 03:14

Dowager, spot on, just feel sorry for those going along with them for the 'fun'!!!

Italiangreyhound · 10/01/2016 03:17

The film looks crap. I don't really care who the actor is. But I do think he is stopping low.

There is not anything is funny about 'dirty old men'.

Italiangreyhound · 10/01/2016 03:17

Or dirty young ones!

Sansoora · 10/01/2016 03:19

I just saw Robert de Niro in Joy and thought it shocking he'd done the film. It was awful.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 10/01/2016 03:41

I loved him in Stardust. I thought it was a brilliant performance. He doesn't play up to his own stereotype. He was so pigeon-holed for years following the Godfather trilogy and good luck to him.

He was, but I don't suppose it was a big earner.

I was disappointed in Harvey Keitel doing adverts for Direct Line based on his Pulp Fiction "cleaner" character but, compared to de Niro's "Dirty Grandfather" film Keitel's adverts now seem fine.

Karanka · 10/01/2016 03:55

This has been going for 20 years now - the last time he headlined a genuinely good film was in 1996 (Casino).

cough The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle cough

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 10/01/2016 05:12

And whilst we're on the subject of great actors doing odd stuff, I spat out my coffee when I realised it was Mark Rylance (the actor's actor) voicing Flop in Bing. Must pay well?

kmc1111 · 10/01/2016 05:22

Eh, this is where he makes his money, and a lot of that money goes to his film festival and film-making grants/scholarships. So better films will come of it.

Good lead/co-lead roles for male actors do dry up at a certain age. Obviously it's not as bad as it is for female actors, there's certainly more mediocre and crappy lead roles available for older men. But De Niro's never going to have another Taxi Driver, Pacino's never going to have another Godfather etc. When they get a decent role, it's a small part, like De Niro's roles in Joy or Silver Linings Playbook. So if they want a fuller schedule, it's lousy comedies or lousy cop/mafia movies.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/01/2016 05:26

He is a really appalling comedy actor. Absolutely cringeworthy. He is good at one type.of acting and should have stuck to it.

annandale · 10/01/2016 06:41

OK I laughed at the trailer Blush not at De Niro's lines but at the Hot Girl's lines. It's quite nice to have the comedy given to the sexy girl.

General feeling that it's actually OK for consenting adults to decide to make a film and for consenting adults to decide that it will be a cold day in hell before they pay £9 for a ticket to see it. Good luck Mr De Niro.

Fairylea · 10/01/2016 06:51

I can't work out why mumsnet has been getting so outraged about this film. This is about the third thread I've seen about it. Confused

It's no different humour wise to the inbetweeners, bridesmaids (which mumsnet seems to love and has women in the star roles) or the dad in American Pie! Plenty of people love those films. Really can't see what all the fuss is about.

jay55 · 10/01/2016 07:45

Maybe he thought it would be fun. In his position I'd choose working with people I liked over worthy stuff with annoying people. It may have fit his schedule just right.

I met Jim Carter (Carson) a while ago and he said his idea role would be on a cruise ship reading magazines ;)