Poll: Robert De Niro's Insane Method Acting

Results of 1,454 votes:

1. 1.
   

   Raging Bull (1980)

    

   He gained a then-record of 60 pounds to play the older Jake LaMotta after having gone through intense physical training in order gain the muscle mass to play the younger LaMotta. He also trained …
2. 2.
   

   Taxi Driver (1976)

    

   He got a cab licence and worked for fifteen hours a day for a month as a taxi driver in order to get into the right frame of mind. He also heavily studied mental illnesses.
3. 3.
   

   The Deer Hunter (1978)

    

   Insisted that a live round was put into the gun during the famous Russian roulette scene. (It was checked, however, to ensure the bullet would not be in the chamber when the trigger was pulle…
4. 4.
   

   Cape Fear (1991)

    

   He took a tape recorder and extracts of the movie’s script to southern towns and asked locals to read lines so that he could perfect his accent. He also did intense physical training for the ro…
5. 5.
   

   The Godfather Part II (1974)

    

   He lived in Sicily for three to four months, learning the local language and way of life.
6. 6.
   

   Being Flynn (2012)

    

   He spent nights on the streets to get the feel of a homeless man. His look was so authentic that he was denied permission into his own hotel.
7. 7.
   

   Goodfellas (1990)

    

   He phoned Henry Hill several times a day in order to discuss aspects of his character, from his posture to how he holds his cigarette.
8. 8.
   

   Awakenings (1990)

    

   He spent an extended amount of time in Sacks hospital observing patients in order to perfect his character’s disorder.
9. 9.
   

   The Untouchables (1987)

    

   He tracked down Al Capone’s original tailors and asked them to make him identical clothing for the film. He also insisted that he work the same style of silk underwear that Capone wore, even th…
10. 10.
    

    Brazil (1985)

     

    His need for obsessively researching for his relatively minor role was so frustrating to director Terry Gilliam that Gilliam “wanted to strangle him.”
11. 11.
    

    New York, New York (1977)

     

    He learned to play the saxophone to authenticate his performance.
12. 12.
    

    Midnight Run (1988)

     

    He spend time with real life bounty hunters as part of his preparation.