"Aw, come on! You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?" - Rockettes monologue, Taxi Driver (1976)
This quote, spoken by Travis Bickle in the movie "Taxi Driver," reflects a character who is increasingly detached from reality, yet yearning for connection. He's asking if someone is addressing him directly, indicating his isolation and need for human interaction, despite his disturbed mental state. The line encapsulates the complex psyche of Travis Bickle, a troubled Vietnam War veteran struggling to find purpose in his life amidst urban chaos.
"You see, but you do not observe." - Vito Corleone, The Godfather Part II (1974)
This quote suggests that seeing is not the same as truly understanding or observing. Vito Corleone, in "The Godfather Part II," implies that mere visual perception does not provide wisdom or deep comprehension of a situation; one must actively engage with their surroundings and carefully observe to gain insights and discern facts.
"I'm an actor. I have to pretend a lot, and each time I pretend, it's like a little death." - Interview with Esquire magazine, 1991
This quote suggests that as an actor, Robert De Niro experiences a "little death" each time he assumes a new character or pretends to be someone else. He may be conveying the idea that immersing oneself in another persona can feel like a form of personal transformation or rebirth (symbolized by death and resurrection), but one that requires significant effort and detachment from one's own identity. This repeated shedding and reinvention might evoke feelings of loss, as he gives up part of himself with each role.
"The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it." - Unknown Source
This quote emphasizes that effort and determination are crucial to achieving success and fulfillment. The harder one works towards a goal, the more significant the sense of accomplishment once achieved. It suggests that the value of an outcome is often proportional to the effort invested in its realization, thus underscoring the importance of perseverance and dedication in personal growth and development.
"If you want to be successful, you have to practice. You don't have wings coming out of your back to fly." - Interview with The New York Times, 2014
This quote by Robert De Niro emphasizes the importance of hard work, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving success. He metaphorically suggests that one does not possess innate abilities or talents, such as wings to fly, but must actively practice and develop skills over time in order to reach their goals. In essence, he is urging us to embrace the idea that success is a product of diligent work rather than relying on assumed natural talent or luck.
My mother worked for a woman, Maria Ley-Piscator, who with her husband founded the Dramatic Workshop, which was connected to the New School. My mother did proofreading and typing and stuff or her, and as part of her payment, I was able to take acting classes there on Saturdays when I was 10.
- Robert De Niro
You never know what you do that could be totally out of left field, which actually might work and give something fresh to the whole scene, to the character, whatever. If you have that with a director who then knows how to shape it, either in the direction, in the moment, or in the editing, then that's good.
- Robert De Niro
I always go back to how people behave. If you watch how people actually behave in a situation, it's very simple and honest and contained. You don't need to use as much expression, as much feeling. Some characters will boil over, and that's another thing, but a lot of times I think you can just do very, very little.
- Robert De Niro
With 'Silver Linings,' I didn't feel - I was thinking of certain things, but I just said, 'Let me go with it.' You have to know what you're doing, where you're going with the scenes, and I put a lot of work into that. But when you're out there, at the same time you gotta be ready for anything.
- Robert De Niro
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