The Seven Best De Niro/Scorsese Collaborations

7: Cape Fear (1991)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange
In Seven (or more) Words: Cape Fear and New York, New York are Scorsese and De Niro's weakest collaborations, though the former sneaks in to the top seven, with its uncomfortable camera framing and anxiety in characterisation, chilling more than Max Cady himself.

6: Casino (1995)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci
In Seven (or more) Words: A two way narrative from Ace Rothstein and Nicky Santoro, which intrudes the audience perception, foiling any sense of awareness through antithetical points of view. We don't know what's going to happen, even though we are 'shown' the climax at the beginning. Three hours of deceit, glamour and violence maintains our entertainment.

5: Mean Streets (1973)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and David Proval
In Seven (or more) Words: Although not the central protagonist, Johnny Boy marks De Niro's cinematic admission, with Scorsese's directorial rawness and flair abundantly strutting the streets of Little Italy.

4: Taxi Driver (1976)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster and Cybill Shepherd
In Seven (or more) Words: Taxi Driver is a stimulating, yet psychedelic ride into the contorting cognition of a mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran. 'You talkin' to me' nails the atmosphere of the film, and the relationship between actor and director; they're willing to try anything.

3: The King of Comedy (1982)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis and Diahnne Abbott
In Seven (or more) Words: Many see this as a mishap. I see it as a masterpiece. The casting of Jerry Lewis against a sinister, desperate, though eminently watchable De Niro proves to be of genius conduct. The film involves both actor and director abducting what should be a surreal offbeat comedy, and injecting it with social realism, inducing empathy from the viewer. An underrated gem.

2: Raging Bull (1980)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty
In Seven (or more) Words: The greatest film direction ever? Probably. The greatest screen performance ever? Difficult to pick just one. This comes second through my own teenage nostalgia towards a very different classic. A marvel of a movie, with the lacquer of black and white cinematography allowing for one to be immersed by every expression Jake La Motta pulls. Beautiful brutality, brutal beauty. Outstanding.

1: Goodfellas (1990)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci
In Seven (or more) Words: Next time I watch Goodfellas, I want to be sitting in a leather clad chair with a whisky in my right hand. Or left hand. It doesn't matter which. Scorsese doesn't glorify being a gangster, the genre does that itself. It is easy to see them as anti-heroes, to comprehend their state of mind, to view them as coolness personified. De Niro, Liotta and Pesci achieve this. Worthy mention to another keynote collaborator in the form of Thelma Schoonmaker for the blistering editing. Scorsese and his shy pal never did better.  

My Next Article Will Be... The Seven Best Film Directors Of All Time