MovieChat Forums > Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) Discussion > I was embarrassed for de Niro

I was embarrassed for de Niro

posted 14 years ago by ilovetapioca
47 replies | jump to latest

I watched this last night and thought it was just terrible, which is shocking given the great cast. De Niro is one of my all time faves and what he was doing in this role is puzzling. I think he is perhaps a bit too iconic to play something so far out of his usual realm. I kept thinking of him in The Godfather, Taxi Driver, and Meet the Parents, I couldn't help it. I was cringing at the trite lines he was given. I'm afraid I can't recommend this movie at all :(.

[–] ValkyrieOakenshield74 14 years ago

Baahh epic fail.

Becoz this movie is awesome, glad I saw it in 1995 when it was even more awesome, the first time seeing the real Frankenstein on screen!!! and Robert precisely did one of the best Frankensteins ever.

Do you recognize my voice...?

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] broadway_babi 13 years ago

glad somebody pointed that out:)

[–] Soodinum 11 years ago

Robert played Frankenstein? Baahh epic fail.

Please do not make negative comments about a film YOU NEVER SAW. It makes you look stupid.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Soodinum 11 years ago

Yeah, nah. The statement was aimed at the IMBd posters who regularly say, 'I turned this off after a minute, it's crap.'

But thanks for your input.

'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Soodinum 11 years ago

Np :)

'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings.

[–] LafinAtchu 14 years ago

Looking over his life's work, Meet the Parents doesn't belong in the same sentence with Godfather Part 2 and Taxi Driver.

[–] SonicAndy 12 years ago

Watch everything from Mean Streets to King of Comedy. You can basically skip the rest, with the exception of Goodfellas, and maybe Casino.

I can't understand how Branagh has a career in movies - or the theatre, come to think of it. He's not a good actor (understatement), and after watching this tripe, an even worse director.

"We're mere loonies! We mean no harm!"

[–] criddic2 12 years ago

Kenneth Branagh is a great actor, with two acting Oscar nominations. "Frankenstein" wasn't his best movie, but to call him a bad actor is just uncalled for! De Niro was fine in the Monster role, and the interpretation was interesting.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] tua07665 14 years ago

I usually think about Rocky and Bullwinkle when watching him on screen personally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0tbEVDhZnk

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] cheapster 13 years ago

You do half expect De Niro to do his 'I'll be watching you' thing from Meet the Parents to Branagh throughout the film.

I think De Niro did a decent job. Yes, his accent came through and he's too 'big' to blend into the role, but he still did a decent job. Branagh ruined any possible chance of the film being a success with his hammy overacting and high slappability factor. In the first 30 minutes he is the most annoying guy ever. I don't blame Coppola for wanting to cut the start of the movie.

[–] Rena_Mahone 12 years ago

"I think he is perhaps a bit too iconic to play something so far out of his usual realm."

I fully agree. The movie was pretty bad, and De Niro wasn't a suitable choice for playing the monster. It just all came out as unbelievable.

Boycott movies that involve real animal violence! (and their directors too)

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] DracTarashV 12 years ago

For those of you that agree with OP... you're nuts!

I'm glad this was one of the very first De Niro films I ever saw in my life; I wasn't familiar with his other work at the time and thus, it didn't affect the way I saw De Niro playing a role 'outside his usual realm', whatever that means 'cause Bobby is one of the most versatile actors, who tackled various roles differently; sorry for those who can't see it. Hell, till this day whenever I see a film of his I haven't seen before, he never plays the same role or comes off as 'De Niro' despite what many of you believe; well, at least his early career until the '90s.

His performance was far from cringe worthy. It was great as far as I'm concerned. And I'm not saying that solely because I'm a big fan of the man, but I mean it because before I saw his most famous roles, I saw his most underrated roles, and I indeed saw an extremely versatile actor who was able of becoming his characters.

But best of all, his portrayal was the CLOSEST to the novel than any other adaption that came before and so far, even after. If Oldman was brilliant as Dracula, then De Niro was brilliant as The Monster as well.

I wasn't used to seeing the 'typecast De Niro' that some of you claim he is... so when I first saw this, surely it was hard to believe the guy/monster on screen was the same person I'd seen in the few previous films I had watched him in. Oh, and his makeup wasn't responsible for convincing and making me believe I was looking at someone else - it was his portrayal. And whenever I re-watch this, I still see The Monster, not De Niro trying so hard.

His performance overall, was amazing.

[–] Edward_de_Vere 12 years ago

I think he is perhaps a bit too iconic to play something so far out of his usual realm. I kept thinking of him in The Godfather, Taxi Driver, and Meet the Parents

Meet the Parents is your idea of an iconic film, on the same level as The Godfather II or Taxi Driver???? Next thing you know, you'll be telling us that Porky's Revenge is right up there with Citizen Kane."

[–] manchof1 12 years ago

I was embarrased they called this movie MARY SHELLEY'S Frankenstein and didn't even stay faithful to her novel.

[–] thursdayrocs 11 years ago

Name a movie that stayed closer to the novel then, please.

[–] lsergiu_10 10 years ago

That there is no movie closer to the novel, doesn't really mean this is a very close one

[–] titus227 10 years ago

I've read the novel. Actually read Mary Shelley's book and this is dead-on accurate. Further, De Niro, in my opinion was terrific in this role? What could he have done better? Given Frankenstein a mohawk and made him talk to himself in the mirror? Give me a break. If you watch every DeNiro film hoping to see a Crime Thriller, then I can see why you can't appreciate a story that has lived on throughout the ages as one of the best stories ever told.

DeNiro studied stroke victims for this role to make the monster's first attempts at speech sound more accurate. The monster is nothing more than a newborn infant in a man's body when he is created. It's not poor acting at all, it's how the role is meant to be played. I have never seen a better Frankenstein and I don't think I will. Maybe after some of you watch Aaron Eckhart killing demons in a holy war as frankenstein in the newer release of 'I, Frankenstein' you will see that the classic story, the classic monster, this version is the most accurate and entertaining.

This is more than just a boredom killer, this is a deep story with Truthful messages about life permeating the entire film. This movie is a classic, but it is also a story involving science and intelligence, come equipped.

[–] MrRadstache 9 years ago

"dead-on accurate"

You haven't really read the book have you?

Some call me cheap, a bit of a freeloader, but i bought some cups for that old school soda!