De Niro gives an acting performance of the highest degree. He would’ve been in his late forties in this masterpiece, and he was in such amazing shape. He is so incredibly creepy and evil in this film and yet in some parts forces you to take his side. I just cannot imagine any other actor taking this role to the epic levels that he did. Amazing actor, possibly the greatest ever. To be fair, Nick Nolte is a fabulous actor as well and in my opinion, very underrated. A true movie classic from Martin Scorsese!
I love how Joe Don Baker's character is so thoroughly outmatched by Cady but he doesn't realize it. He's a swaggering bully ex cop used to pushing nobodys around but he doesn't realize that Cady is on another level that he's just not equipped to handle.
Always loved this film. I remember when I was a kid watching it for the first time, Max Cady was scary partly due to his numerous tattoos. Was unusual to see people covered in tats. ''I don't know whether to look at him or read him''. Now, his tattoos look ordinary, and I wouldn't look twice if I saw him in the street, as everyone and their brother seems to be tattood all over nowadays!
Absolutely one of Robert DeNiro's legendary roles but this Juliette Lewis performance should be remembered as an all time great performance by a teenager/young adult actor. Especially when you consider the roles she went on to play after Cape Fear. She's always had a presence on screen and this flick was one helluva launching pad for her
IMO the most intense thriller of the 1990s. My favourite Scorsese film cos he just put on a Masterclass in how to terrify an audience. The scene between Max and Lori in the bar and what follows is just insane tension. Gets me every time that scene.
One definite word of wisdom I retained from this movie is when Deniro as Cady says every man must go through hell to reach his own salvation. That is truth. I remember being in jail once in the state of Georgia for a drug offense and seeing, “In life there will be tribulation.” John 16:33 written on the jail cell wall. Made me realize if I get out this situation it’s time to change or die.
Hey, he was a fucking monster before that when he raped and assaulted a woman. The only difference is that before jail he was just a psycho, and after jail - a psycho with Bible in his head, which made him twice dangerous. The moral of the story: DO NOT teach psychos to read! lol
Kristina Brandorff I think his intricate knowledge of the law which was the main purpose of him becoming literate made him far more dangerous than his quoting of religious scripture.
A COMMENT OF THE CAREER OF MR ROBERT DE NIRO: THE BEST PERFORMANCES: 1-taxi driver 2-racing bull 3-godfather 2 4-cape fear 5-awakenings 6-the deer hunter 7- Silver Linings Playbook 8-The Untouchables 9-Once Upon a Time in America 10-goodfellas THE GREAT BUT NOT THE BEST PERFORMANCES: 1-mean streets 2-heat 3-casino 4-the Irishman 5-mission 6-Mary Shelley's Frankenstein THE BEST IN COMEDY GENRE: 1-Analyze This 2-Meet the Parents 3-The King of Comedy 4-Midnight Run 5-new York, New York 6-Meet the Fockers THE WORST : 1-The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle 2-Dirty Grandpa 3-Little Fockers 4-Manuale d’amore 3 GREAT MOVIES BUT NOT BEST PERFORMANCES: 1-Ronin 2-Jackie brown 3-Bronx 4-Jacknife 5-the score 6-men of honor THIS MAN IS A LEGEND (Ah yes, this is my personal opinion)
za09s I wrote him a letter in the 7th grade, for school. He replied -- obviously, I still have that letter. He's da' man! Also, that was a year or two after this film was released -- I'm 36.
His character just got outa prison after 14 years, I'm sure not everyone there were southerners w thick accents- but I still think he did an excellent job
Exactly. Mitchem himself had a powerful personality to bring to the role. It gives him that much less he has to act. DeNiro is a bit of a cipher. His Cady is one layer of acting on top of another.
I felt soooo sorry for Cady in the film, witnessing his evolution,history and transformation throughout the movie, Fav Quote by Cady: I learned that in Prison, you liiiiiike!!!
I never knew Marty made a movie like this before today... People who say that Robert Di Niro has played only one type of character, haven't watched his work at all! For all I know, he'll always stay in my top 3. This movie is outta this world! *12 April 2024*
Vegeta Lover Years ago, that episode is what got me interested in seeing "Cape Fear". So in a way, it's thanks to "The Simpsons" that I became a huge Scorsese and De Niro fan, which propelled me into a career of filmmaking. Funny how everything ties together. :)
“What’s you gonna do? Arrest me? You a cop? Or were you a cop? Or were you not good enough to remain on the force. Cause you know something, that’s the feeling I’m getting here. Love the DeNiro Joe Don Baker exchange.
I actually saw this version before the original. Then Turner Classic had the Peck / Mitchum so I tuned in, thinking it would be a bit pale to the remake. Gotta give Mitchum credit, EVERY bit as menacing as Deniro, and he didn't have the levity with the graphic language and violence the '91 film had. Still great Deniro though. If it wasn't for Hopkins and Hannibal Lecter being in '91 as well then Deniro wins best actor.
"Its not necessary to lay a foul tongue on me, my friend. I COULD get upset and things COULD get out of hand and then in self defence I COULD do something to you that you don't like here right here" Max Cady was a badass although a complete sicko too
