JR Asks and Robert De Niro Agrees: ‘Ellis’ Is Born

An epic snowstorm; permission to shoot on a historic site that had been closed to the public for 60 years; and the availability and willingness of Robert De Niro: those were the impossible ingredients that the artist JR needed to make his short film. For most first-time filmmakers, the bar would seem too high. 

But JR, the Frenchman known for his large-scale street photography who has lately branched off into other artistic fields, like ballet, pulled it off. The result is a 14-minute film, “Ellis,” set in the formerly abandoned hospital on Ellis Island, which was once a way station for immigrants. It’s also the site of JR’s recent installation “Unframed – Ellis Island,” in which he and his team pasted archival images of immigrants in the very rooms they passed through during the great wave of migration in the early 20th century.

The film, with a scripted voiceover written by the Oscar winner Eric Roth (“Forrest Gump”) and music by the French songwriter Woodkid, follows Mr. De Niro as he walks through the hospital, which was abandoned in 1954 and stands as a ruin, with broken windows and rusted lockers. “It was very eerie,” Mr. De Niro said at the film’s New York premiere on Friday on the Lower East Side. It will run Wednesday-Sunday through Nov. 8 in a pop-up exhibition sponsored by Galerie Perrotin, JR’s dealer, at 130 Orchard Street. (His photos and some works on wood will also be on display.)

Instead of posting the short online, JR, a star of social media, is offering to send a copy of the film free to people who want to screen it in small groups. (Details are here.) He is also organizing free showings in London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and at Miami Art Basel. “The idea of the film is not to make any money, but just try to get people to see it,” he said. 

JR was first inspired to make the film as a way to document the crumbling hospital. “A lot of the places you see in the film have decayed so much, you can’t see them anymore,” he said Friday. He also wanted to highlight its connection to the current global battles over migration, by including photos of contemporary undocumented United States immigrants, scattered among the collages of faces from a century ago.

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Robert De Niro on the set of "Ellis," a short film by the artist JR.Credit

For Mr. De Niro, who said in an interview that he wasn’t sure if any of his family members had come through Ellis Island, the motivation was simpler. “JR asked me to do it and Jane asked me to do it,” he said, referring to Jane Rosenthal, his partner in Tribeca Film, “and I said O.K.” He and JR have collaborated on several projects, though it has been years since Mr. De Niro agreed to do a short. “I think JR is very personable and likable and smart, and generates enthusiasm,” he said.

Traveling to Ellis Island is an undertaking, involving passports and ferries, and Mr. De Niro arrived with little advance notice, for just half a day, from the set of the David O. Russell film “Joy” in Boston last winter. The small “Ellis” crew scrambled. There was no time for rehearsal, but the snow was fresh. “Everything could have gone wrong, and that’s it, and there would be no movie,” JR said. Instead, “we got really focused.”

“And there was Bob, in the middle of a storm,” he added. “It was magical.”

Robert De Niro American actor

Robert De Niro,  (born August 17, 1943, New York City, New York, U.S.), American actor famous for his uncompromising portrayals of violent and abrasive characters and, later in his career, for his comic depictions of cranky old men.

The son of two Greenwich Village artists, De Niro dropped out of school at age 16 to study at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting. After working in a few Off-Off-Broadway plays, he appeared in his first film, Brian De Palma’s The Wedding Party (filmed 1963, released 1969). Thereafter he appeared in several minor films, the most notable being The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (1971). It was not until his performance in Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) that he was widely recognized as an excellent actor. Mean Streets (1973) marked De Niro’s first association with director Martin Scorsese, with whom he would do some of his most celebrated work. Director Francis Ford Coppola, whose massively popular The Godfather (1972) had won the Academy Award for best picture, was so impressed by De Niro in Mean Streets that he offered the actor the part of young Vito Corleone in The Godfather, Part II (1974), forgoing even a screen test. De Niro’s brilliant take on the part that was created by Marlon Brando in the first Godfather film earned him a best supporting actor Oscar and made him an international star.


Following The Godfather, Part II, De Niro worked with some of cinema’s most noted directors in such films as Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1900 (1976), Elia Kazan’s The Last Tycoon (1976), and Michael Cimino’s The Deer Hunter (1978), the last one receiving the Oscar for best picture. But it was his films with Scorsese for which De Niro acquired a reputation for masterfully portraying extremely dark and unappealing figures. He received an Oscar nomination for his role as the isolated and violent Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976) and won the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of boxer Jake La Motta in Raging Bull (1980). Known for his intense role preparation, De Niro spent weeks driving a taxi in New York City before filming Taxi Driver, and he gained more than 50 pounds (about 23 kg) to portray La Motta. By the end of the 1970s, he was widely considered one of the best actors of his generation.


In the 1980s he appeared in a series of box office failures that have nevertheless become cult favourites. Scorsese’s The King of Comedy (1983), which offered a desolate look at the hazards of celebrity, won critical praise but little public interest, whereas Sergio Leone’s epic Once upon a Time in America (1984) suffered from postproduction studio interference, as did Terry Gilliam’s futuristic satire Brazil (1985).
De Niro also performed in more conventional films during that era, including True Confessions (1981), Falling in Love (1984), The Mission (1986), and De Palma’s The Untouchables (1987). He revealed a talent for comedy in Midnight Run (1988) and won some of the best notices of his career for his depiction of a catatonic patient in Awakenings (1990). GoodFellas (1990) reunited De Niro with Scorsese for a brutal look at organized crime. Most critics agreed that Scorsese and De Niro had returned to form, but two further collaborations, Cape Fear (1991) and Casino (1995), were met with mixed reviews.


De Niro later appeared in Michael Mann’s crime thriller Heat (1995), which pitted him against actor Al Pacino. He continued to explore his comedic side in such films as the satirical Wag the Dog (1997); Analyze This (1999) and its sequel, Analyze That (2002); and Meet the Parents (2000) and its sequels, Meet the Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010). In 2008 De Niro reteamed with Pacino in the police drama Righteous Kill, and the following year he starred in Everybody’s Fine, portraying a widower who discovers various truths about his adult children. He later took supporting roles in the thrillers Machete (2010) and Limitless (2011), the action drama Killer Elite (2011), and the ensemble romantic comedy New Year’s Eve (2011).

In 2012 De Niro starred as a destitute writer reconnecting with his estranged son in the drama Being Flynn and played another paternal role in the seriocomic Silver Linings Playbook. The latter film earned him his first Oscar nomination in more than two decades. In The Family (2013) De Niro starred as a mobster turned informant whose family moves to France in the witness protection program. He then teamed with Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas, and Kevin Kline in the buddy comedy Last Vegas (2013). De Niro’s later credits include Grudge Match (2013), in which he and Sylvester Stallone played superannuated boxers who reunite for one last fight, and the workplace comedy The Intern (2015), in which he featured as the title character opposite Anne Hathaway.

In addition to acting, De Niro also directed several films. In 1993 he made his directorial debut with A Bronx Tale, a movie about the Mafia set in the 1960s. He later directed the highly acclaimed The Good Shepherd (2006), which centres on the origins of the CIA and the compromises made by an agent over the span of his career. In 2009 De Niro was named a Kennedy Center honoree, and two years later he received the Cecil B. DeMille Award (a Golden Globe for lifetime achievement).

Robert De Niro to NYT reporter: ‘Ya got the part, kid’

“Ya got the part, kid.”

It’s safe to say few journalists have rarely heard those words, at least not from Robert De Niro.

But that’s the case for New York Times reporter Diana Henriques, author of a book about Bernie Madoff’s notorious Ponzi scheme, “The Wizard of Lies.” She took a buyout from the newspaper in 2011 but still writes for it.

HBO is adapting her book, with De Niro starring as Madoff, and she auditioned with him several months ago, Chris Roush reports for Talking Biz News.

…In June, and he grilled her for two hours about his mannerisms, his laugh, his sense of humor, and his relative closeness to his two sons.

De Niro and his casting director liked how it went well enough to ask her back the next day to read a scene with him. According to the journalist:

The next day, De Niro met us in the same small office. We sat knee to knee; he had a script to follow, I was relying on memory. But about a minute into a 5-minute scene, he seemed to just drop out of his own head and into Bernie’s. It was a surreal, goosebumpy moment — and he’s barely started on building his characterization!

We finished the scene, looks were exchanged among Levinson, Chenoweth and De Niro. After a bit of vague chit-chat, I got blunt (not an investigative reporter for nothing!) So, I said, what’s the decision? DeNiro gave me his patented smirk: “Ya got the part, kid.”

Correction: An earlier version of this story left the space out of Robert De Niro’s last name. It has been corrected.

David O. Russell’s Next Project Featuring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Robert De Niro

Last week, the somewhat confusing trailer for Joy, David O. Russell's latest feature film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, and Robert De Niro was released. If that trio of names sound slightly familiar, it should for two reasons: (1) Silver Linings Playbook and (2) American Hustle.

While the trailer is stylish and J-Law looks beautiful, viewers have been left wondering on several points. Does the movie take place in a snow globe? Does Jennifer Lawrence get involved in a infomercial ring gone bad? What is she drawing? Does Bradley Cooper have a lead role? 

We may not yet know the answers, but what we do know here at Slate is this: Joy is not the last project David O. Russell will helm starring this group of Oscar winners and noms. (Better luck next time, Cooper.)

The video above is a sneak peek at the horror film coming this fall.

Juliette Lewis steps out in figure-hugging Aztec dress as she reveals Robert De Niro once told her off for 'disrespecting writers'

It's been 24 years since he attempted to rape and murder her in the movie Cape Fear.

But Juliette Lewis bears no ill will against Robert De Niro, as she posted a touching birthday tribute to him on Monday.

The 42-year-old Secrets and Lies star shared a story on Instagram about an interaction she had with the screen legend to mark him turning 72.

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Well wisher: Juliette Lewis stepped out in figure-hugging Aztec dress on Monday as she posted a birthday tribute to her Cape Fear co-star Robert De Niro

'In honor of Robert De Niro's birthday I'm going to tell you a story I usually tell in acting schools; of a major lesson I learned,' she wrote beside a picture of the two Cape Fear co-stars. 

She recalled how she was in a bar in Hollywood in 1994, aged 20, when 'Bob' approached her and said she had 'done a god job' in the film Natural Born Killers.

'Yes the Master stopped to tell ME I had done a good job,' she gushed, amazed that he hadn't credited her performance to the director, or the lucky chance that she just happened to be exactly like her character in real life.

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Nice fit: The 42-year-old's figure hugging, sleeveless lilac dress which showed off her toned arms as well as her super-fit physique

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Tale: Secrets and Lies star shared a story on Instagram about an interaction she had with the screen legend to mark him turning 72

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Rising star: She recalled how she was in a bar in Hollywood in 1994, aged 20, when 'Bob' approached her and said she had 'done a god job' in the film Natural Born Killers

'So here we are Bob gives me a glorious compliment and instead of graciously accepting it, my 20 yr old insecure covered by pride- self says "Well ya know I made up like 90 per cent of what I did. I improvised and wrote scenes",' she continued, before revealing his shock response.

'Bob looked at me sternly and said, "Oh no. No don't ever disrespect the writer. Don't you ever disrespect the writer or your director. Ever."'

Lewis claimed that in that one moment she realised so much, felt like she grew by five years... and never made that mistake again.

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BS: But she revealed the screen legend slapped her down when she claimed to have made up 90 per cent of her script

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Wrist slapped: 'Oh no. No don't ever disrespect the writer. Don't you ever disrespect the writer or your director. Ever.' she recalled De Niro telling her

'I am so thankful he took the time to school a very young J Lewis,' she concluded. 'Alot of teachers I'd reject what they'd say bein so pride-ful and self protecting, But when he said it I knew exactly what he meant! Grace and respect. Lasts forever! He's a class act! #SchooledByDeNiro'.

Earlier on Monday, Juliette stepped out in a figure hugging, sleeveless, Aztec-inspired lilac dress, which showed off her toned arms as well as her super-fit physique.

The star stopped by Fred Segal in West Hollywood for some shopping and a bite of lunch. 

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Mentor: On Monday she posted a snap of the two together, claiming 'I learned so much from this man'

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Breakout: She also shared a split of the two in Cape Fear, for which both were nominated for Oscars and Golden Globes

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Creepy: The then 17-year-old even shared a kissing - and a thumb sucking - scene with De Niro

'You're f-----': Robert De Niro gives amazing speech to NYU art school grads, warns them to be ready for ‘a lifetime of rejection’

Double Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro told NYU’s art school grads Friday congratulations and then quickly added, “You’re f-----.”

And the word he used was definitely not Focker.

De Niro’s startling and salty commencement speech for the Tisch School of Arts were greeted with loud applause as the grinning actor gave the graduates a reality check.

“The school of medicine graduates, each will get a job,” he said.

So will the law school grads and if they don’t “who cares, they’re lawyers,” he said. “Teachers, they’ll be working, s----- jobs and lousy pay, but they will be working.”

But you are “opening a door to a lifetime of rejection,” he said.

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MARY ALTAFFER/AP

Tisch Salute is the Tisch School of the Arts' unique celebration marking the achievements of the graduating class of 2015.

De Niro said one piece of advice he gave his kids was “never attend the Tisch School for Arts” and to major in accounting.

But then he added, “when it comes to the arts, passion should trump common sense.”

“Your path is clear,” he told the grads. “You have to keep working.”

De Niro said he heard “Valium and Vicodin” are good at easing the pain of rejection. He joked that even he has to deal with that, noting that he didn’t get to play Dr. Martin Luther King in “Selma.”

“I could have played the hell out of that part,” he said.

Robert De Niro's iconic movie roles

A proud New Yorker, De Niro won Academy Awards for his roles in “The Godfather Part II” and “Raging Bull” and is considered one of the finest actors of his generation. He is also well known for his comedic turns in movies like “Meet the Fockers.”

Wrapping up, De Niro said he intends to pass out his resume and head shots to newly graduated directors in the room.

“I know you’re gonna make it,” he said. “Break a leg. Next!”

De Niro’s speech got two thumbs up from the grads.

“I tell myself I'm f----- too,” said 24-year-old Valerie Lee.

“We were all laughing and clapping," said Seung Hyun Hwang, 29. "He gave us really helpful advice

Jake Goldstein admitted he was shocked when De Niro dropped the first F-bomb.

“I thought it was funny because he’s known to be kind of a crass guy,” said Goldstein, 24, who was rushing to catch a train to Connecticut, where he is appearing in a Shakespeare play. “I do have a job right now!”

“He was just being honest,” added 22-year-old Jamie Jensen. “We were all just laughing. It's so true in a way — we all joke about it. You know it going in to art school."

Jensen’s mom, however, was not amused.

"It was right at the beginning — first line,” said Maria Jensen, 54, who is from Mount Bethel, Pa. “You don’t really want to use the F-bomb in front of thousands of people. That’s just my take.”

Watch: Robert DeNiro Has Nothing on 'The Wolfpack'

In a clip celebrating the theatrical release of the acclaimed documentary, the Angulo brothers reenact famous DeNiro scenes to hilariously impressive effect.

READ MORE: Watch: 'The Wolfpack' Brothers Reenact Sundance Classics 'The Usual Suspects,' 'Clerks' & More

Crystal Moselle's "The Wolfpack" has been winning over audiences ever since winning the Grand Jury Prize (U.S. Documentary) at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. But if you need more convincing to check out the documentary, let its riveting subjects -- the Angulo brothers -- show you how it's done. 

In a new video from Tribeca Film, the siblings deliver their best DeNiro impressions with scenes from some of the Tribeca co-founder's biggest hits, including "Mean Streets" (1973), "Goodfellas" (1990), "Analyze This" (1999) and "Taxi Driver" (1976). Considering the documentary shows how the power of movies played a part in opening up the worldview of its confined subjects, this short DeNiro tribute is truly fitting. 

"The Wolfpack" is currently playing in select theaters. 

‘Joy’: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper & Robert DeNiro Reunite In First Trailer

Can these three do anything wrong? After seeing this trailer, I’d say no. The first look at David O’Russell’s next film, ‘Joy’ is out and it looks just as amazing as his last movie.

Like every David O’Russell film, Joy tells the story of family, love and loyalty — and he’s brought along his all star cast to do it. Jennifer Lawrence takes on the role of Joy, an American inventor and entrepreneur. However, the movie takes us through her remarkable life story as a Long Island single mom of three children. The song set in the trailer, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” seems to be more fitting than anything. Watch the trailer here.

Here is the full description of the film:

Joy is the wild story of a family across four generations centered on the girl who becomes the woman who founds a business dynasty and becomes a matriarch in her own right. Betrayal, treachery, the loss of innocence and the scars of love, pave the road in this intense emotional and human comedy about becoming a true boss of family and enterprise facing a world of unforgiving commerce. Allies become adversaries and adversaries become allies, both inside and outside the family, as Joy’s inner life and fierce imagination carry her through the storm she faces. Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramirez, Isabella Rossellini, Diane Ladd, and Virginia Madsen.

“It’s my first film that really has the woman as the star,” David O’Russell told EW. “What’s it like to become a boss and the godmother of a family and dynasty, both emotionally and commercially? You go inside that person’s soul, and it’s alternately hilarious, horrifying, and sort of joyous. Relationships are always complex, and nobody gets to success without breaking some of their own bones—and other people’s, too.”