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Robert De Niro, You Whore

I’m an idealist when it comes to artists. I stupidly believe that the artists I respect ought to be above selling themselves to whoever writes a cheque. This is especially true if you’re a serious, critically-acclaimed, well-moneyed artist.

So, when I recently saw Robert De Niro starring in an ad for American Express, the string of vitriol that poured out of my mouth wasn’t remotely fit for print. For God’s sake, man, do you really need the money? Surely you’re still making six-figure residuals from the Godfather movies (the top-selling DVDs for months back in late 2001, early 2002), let alone your other 70 films. I know lots of actors like to japander but, to water down a phrase, don’t defecate where you live.

Maybe mine is an antiquated notion (I subscribe to the Neil Young school of corporate endorsement). After all, Warhol and Toulouse-Latrec did plenty of commercial work. Still, I think it lessens De Niro’s body of work when you add “credit card commercial” to the likes of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.

Of course, then I read that Martin Scorsese directed De Niro in the commercial. I surrender.

This entry was posted in:Movies
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Published by dbarefoot

Darren Barefoot is an author, speaker and digital strategist. He’s the co-founder of Capulet Communications, and co-author of “Friends With Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook”.

6 comments

  1. This is why we’re friends Darren. That commercial gave me a warm fuzzy. I’ve never considered myself an artist or an art critic, just a consumer – in all senses of the word.

  3. I’m with you. DeNiro is losing it. I haven’t seen the commercial, but have you seen some of his latest movie choices? I’m not sure the commercial was his first mistake…

  4. Sometimes I have to wonder if the actors/musicians/etc actualy do it because they truly believe in the product they’re endorsing. Hard to say, but it’s not always about the moo-lah.

  5. You shilling to me?..YOU shilling to me?…Well then who the hell else are you shilling to…are you shilling to me?…Well I’m the only one here.

  6. Scorcese is also briefly visible in the commercial.

    So is the Tribeca film festival marquee. I think the spot had to do with AmEx as the main sponsor for the film festival.

    Which for me makes it better — if De Niro and Scorcese’s participation in a commercial got bucks for the arts.

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