With over 120 credits to his name, it is difficult to pick a ‘best of’ for anything for revered and seasoned actorRobert De Niro. Starting in the ’70s with roles in such iconic films asTaxi Driver,Mean Streets, andThe Godfather Part II,the actor would kick off the ’80s and ’90s in significant ways with some of his best work, withRaging Bullbeing released in 1980 andGoodfellasin 1990. To this day, De Niro is still delivering standout performances, especially in his transition into more comedic roles infilms likeMeet the Fockersand its sequels.
A versatile actor, Robert De Niro has not always been the hero, or complex anti-hero, of his films, occasionally stepping into the role of the antagonist. Among his most notable villainous roles are Max Cady inCape Fear, Al Capone inThe Untouchables, and, more recently, William Hale inKillers of the Flower Moon. Yet out of all these performances, his best villain comes from one of his more understated films, Louis Cyphre in Alan Parker’s 1987 psychological horror/noir film,Angel Heart.
The Underrated ‘Angel Heart’ Gave Robert De Niro His Best Villain to Date
Set in 1955 in New Orleans,Angel Heartfollows private investigator Harry Angel (Brilliantly played by Mickey Rourke), who is contacted by Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro) to find a missing singer named Johnny Favorite. As Angel digs deeper into the case, he finds himself getting caught up in a string of violent events tied to voodoo practices and a cover-up around who Johnny Favorite’s real identity is. As Louis Cyphre’s demands for Harry Angel to complete his task become more severe, the sleuth begins to lose his grip on reality and suspects his employer is hiding a dark truth behind his request.
At the theaters,Angel Heartwas considered a disappointment,only grossing $17.2 million off of its $18 million budget. The movie would see critical praise, particularly for director Alan Parker’s brooding atmosphere that blended elements of psychological horror with its sleuth story. Time would be a bit kinder to the film, and it is now considered to be one of the mostunderrated neo-noir movies of the ’80s, with a cult fanbase. The movie would also offer a surprisingly broad appeal, with elements of everything from mystery to folk horror subtly thrown in the mix.
The paragraph below contains heavy spoilers if you want to watch Angel Heart for yourself first.Despite gaining some cult notoriety,Angel Heartremains among the less championed films in De Niro’s body of work. What makes Louis Cyphre such an intimidating villain is his cold and calculated approach, as De Niro always brings with him a calmness regardless of the situation. This sinister energy slowly reveals the character to be the Devil himself, a fact that seems obvious when you break down the name Louis Cyphre (Lucifer). Still, the reveal remains unspoiled until the film’s climax, thanks to De Niro’s nuanced approach. A masterclass in minimalism, the role is not only disturbing, but it highlights the brilliance and skill of Robert De Niro to step out of his regular roles to deliver an utterly demonic performance; the scene where he peels an egg will be etched into the memory of anyone who watches the movie.
Robert De Niro Is Great in ‘Angel Heart’, But Should You Watch the Movie?
Even with the movie gaining a cult fan base, this is far fromthe best movie of Robert De Niro’s. Instead,Angel Heartgives him one of the most unique characters the seasoned actor has ever tackled, even considering he is in a supporting role. His interactions with Mickey Rourke are also highly memorable, and watching Rourke’s Harry Angel slowly break down under the unrelenting manipulation of De Niro’s Louis Cyphre is pure cinematic perfection.Angel Heartcertainly has its positives, but there is a degree of tempered expectations required. Notably, the most significant critique of the movie at its release was a somewhat clumsy narrative with a focus on atmosphere over storytelling; a claim that certainly holds water.
Angel Heartis undoubtedly worth checking out or revisiting to witness Robert De Niro’s phenomenal, devilish performance.Just don’t expect it to measure up to the actors' greatest works of all time. Thankfully, the film is easy enough to track down, asyou can stream Angel Heart for free on both Hoopla and Kanopy.
Angel Heart
