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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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.”