MovieChat Forums > New York, New York (1977) Discussion > Deniro Too Unlikable??

Deniro Too Unlikable??

posted 18 years ago by mit800
23 replies | jump to latest

I think the reason this was a flop is because Deniro is just an out and out Lout. He is so awfully unlikable throughout the film that it becomes almost comical that anyone would stand being around him for any time at all. I also think that Liza Minnelli is unbelievable in that she would put up with this character for all that time. It`s still somewhat oddly fascinating for me to watch and I don`t know why. I`ve liked alot of Scorceses films but this one seems to be all over the map.

Is it a musical--not really--the music comes from stage performances and recording studios, no one just bursts into song in a rainstorm or on an Austrian mountaintop-those are musicals. Liza only really shines in the musical moments. She can do drama (Sterile Cookoo) or Comedy(Arthur) but improving with Deniro doesn`t suit her.

But in the end it all comes down to the ugly character of Deniro. If he had played it a little more on the comedic side it might have worked but in this case it was just too much. Of course-as with all films-it`s totally subjective to the viewer. These are just opinions so don`t anybody get bent out of shape> I would rather read others opinions. Thanks

[–] Samurai_babe 18 years ago

Well, for me, i liked the cheeky arrogant character that De Nuiro played, reminds me of my boyfriend.
de Niro also look downright gorgeous in the this movie!!!

its me! http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/Jordie_ellis/pics/wellello.jpg

[–] mary_reilly 18 years ago

I read somewhere that the reason why deNiro wanted to do the movie was so that he could learn to play an instrument so obviously he didn't care much for the story...unles I'm wrong

[–] Samurai_babe 18 years ago

hmmm i haven't come across that info but i doubt very much its true.

its me! http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/Jordie_ellis/pics/wellello.jpg

[–] mary_reilly 18 years ago

You could be right, I read this in a book which was going through every movie he had done at the time and in each movie it had robert de niro talking about the movie his charcter and anything else remotely to do with it. He was saying he liked plays and that he would like to do another play

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] mary_reilly 18 years ago

"your book says anything about Diahnne and Bob in that movie?"

It's not my book, I borrowed it from the library a long time ago so I don't remember the details which also includes your question. Funny thing is it was only 2 days ago I found the title of the book written somewhere, I remember the name now it's called.....

The Cinema of Robert DeNiro

[–] jeanniemotherof3 12 years ago

you're wrong. De Niro takes every character very serious.

[–] km-44 18 years ago

For me, it's De Niro and I simply can't help but like him. Sad truth I'd like him if he had a gun to my head. I can't help it.

[–] Samurai_babe 18 years ago

For me, it's De Niro and I simply can't help but like him. Sad truth I'd like him if he had a gun to my head. I can't help it.

haha! i'd too still love him even if were holding a gun to my head, just CAN NOT help loving him.

A census taker tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti

[–] jeanniemotherof3 12 years ago

lol! me too! he tends to have that affect on several females!

[–] jeanniemotherof3 12 years ago

Robert De Niro is like a "Drug"

[–] neil57 18 years ago

When the movie was first released, there was some speculation in the media (Rex Reed for example) that Scorsese had based the characters on Doris Day and her first musician husband who was apparently very abusive to her. If that is the case, then De Niro was playing the character as written.

[–] jeanniemotherof3 12 years ago

De Niro plays every character to perfection.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5947) a year ago

Not every true story makes for a good movie. That does not automatically follow.

[–] dth1212 18 years ago

>>...and because the movie hasn´t a "happy ending".

I think part of the failure of NY, NY upon its initial release, among other things at the time, was due to all but the end of the "Happy Endings" number being cut. After being restored and the film's re-release in the early '80s, that number (an artificial, Hollywood-style movie-within-a-movie) gave the film enough of a "happy ending" to make up for the fact that Minnelli & DiNiro's characters could never have had such together. It also benefited from the "life affirming" quality of Minnelli's musical performance style. (If you've ever seen her live, especially when she was in top form, you know what I mean.) Even though NY, NY is a favorite of mine, I've always felt that DeNiro dominated the first two thirds...but I especially love the last act, after he leaves and Francine's career takes off. That's when Minnelli owns the picture, IMHO.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] dth1212 18 years ago

True, that's why I typed "happy ending" in quotes. My point is that, for me at least, NY, NY became less of a downer when that number was restored in its entirety a few years after the film's initial premiere. (Actually, I didn't want to see the two of them back together at the end and was happy when they aborted their little reunion. I felt it actually showed growth in Minnelli's character, considering how women were traditionally represented during the period of the film.) Unfortunately, too many problems (the relationship, in general, the length and pace of the movie, etc.) still keep the movie from being a fully satisfying experience for most people.

[–] dth1212 18 years ago

>>and i don´t know why she ended up marrying him.Since the beginning she could see that guy was a moron.

I think he wore her down with his persistance (he was one persistant SOB) and charm (yeah, he had some). Also, please remember that this movie takes place in the '40s, right after WWII. Women weren't allowed to be as independent in those days, unless life circumstances forced them to be otherwise...and what brief independence they had while the men were away at war soon ended upon their return. Though Francine appeared independent in the beginning, I think she started to lower her guard (at least with her heart) when she first heard him play and tried to help him at his audition. Plus, she was kind of trapped after he found her on the road and got a job with her band. From there, she probably got caught up in the whole fantasy of family and marriage (song: "The Man I Love"), and since they were both musicians...so much the better. Well, we know how that turned out. She found her real independence in the third act of the movie, IMHO.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] WarpedRecord 12 years ago

De Niro's character is certainly a cad here, but I think that unlikability adds to this film's depth. Beneath the sunny surface of the production numbers lies and very dark relationship.

[–] filmmekker 12 years ago

True. I find DeNiro's character interesting but I'm sure that's why the film didn't do well. As James Cagney once said, "films are a boy girl business" I assume he was talking about hit films. If you were rooting for Minnelli and DeNiro to get together and they did, I'm sure this would have been a bigger hit.

Open the door for Mr. Muckle!!