Hey movie buffs! Robert De Niro a total legend is making news again. This time it's not just about his incredible acting career but also real estate moves a brand new TV show and a look back at one of his most iconic films. Let's get into all the De Niro buzz!
Grace Hightower Sells Former Central Park West Apartment with Robert De Niro For a Cool $18 Million
So first up in De Niro news his ex-wife Grace Hightower just sold their old New York City apartment. This wasn't just any apartment it's a swanky five-bedroom co-op right on Central Park West. The selling price? A hefty $18 million. Apparently they originally bought it back in 2006 for even more like $20.9 million. Looks like the luxury real estate market can be a bit unpredictable even for A-listers.
This duplex is in the Brentmore building at 88 Central Park West a pretty famous spot. It's huge too almost 5700 square feet! It sounds like it has amazing park views which you would expect for that kind of price. The apartment even got a makeover after a fire back in 2012. Grace even said it was like seeing someone you knew die when she saw the fire damage. Yikes that sounds rough.
Inside there is a massive primary bedroom with park-facing windows walk-in closets and a bunch of other bedrooms. Downstairs you have living and dining rooms and a kitchen. Fancy stuff! Fun fact this place used to belong to Harvey Weinstein before De Niro and Hightower bought it. The building itself is celeb-central with past and present residents like Sting and Annie Leibovitz. It seems like a prime location for the rich and famous but Grace is moving on after her and De Niro split back in 2018. Divorce is never easy especially when millions of dollars and NYC real estate are involved!
Explore Long Island Like Robert De Niro in His New Netflix Series "Zero Day"
Moving from real estate to the screen De Niro is starring in a brand new Netflix limited series called " Zero Day ". If you are into political thrillers with lots of suspense this might be right up your alley. The show is all about cyber security government secrets and some serious espionage.
While "Zero Day" is set in big cities like New York and Washington D.C. guess where most of the filming actually happened? Long Island New York! Yep much of the series was shot in and around Long Island. Who knew right?
So if you are a De Niro fan or just love "Zero Day" you could actually check out some of the filming locations yourself. Long Island is known as "Hollywood East" for a reason! The AOL article gives a mini travel guide if you are thinking about visiting:
- Best time to visit: Summer (June-September) for beaches or Christmas for a festive vibe. Winter can be cold so pack warm clothes.
- Transportation: Buses trains taxis and ride-shares are available. Ferries can take you to Connecticut or New Jersey. It is less walkable than Manhattan so plan accordingly.
- Things to do: Montauk Point Lighthouse Long Island Aquarium Tanger Outlets in Riverhead. For something different try the Outrageous Oyster Bay Scavenger Hunt.
- Where to eat: Upscale dining like Verona Ristorante Peter Luger Steak House and Cowfish. Michelin-starred Chuan Tian Xia Chinese restaurant is also an option. For casual eats find beach pizza fried clams and fish and chips at local shops.
- Where to stay: Luxury hotels like The Madison Fire Island Pines The Garden City Hotel and Allegria Hotel. Cheaper chain hotels are available but Airbnb in Long Island or even staying in Connecticut or New Jersey and taking a ferry might be more budget-friendly.
Long Island has got fancy mansions beautiful beaches and a bit of that old-money vibe. Sounds like a cool place to explore especially if you want to imagine you are in "Zero Day" uncovering political secrets like De Niro's character George Mullen!
Taxi Driver's Controversial Ending: Still Causing Buzz Decades Later and De Niro's Iconic Role
Let's take a trip back in time to one of De Niro's most famous and debated movies: " Taxi Driver ". This 1976 film directed by Martin Scorsese is a classic for a reason but it's the ending that really gets people talking even today.
Collider wrote an interesting piece arguing that "Taxi Driver" has the "best most controversial and thunderous ending" of any Robert De Niro movie ever. That is a bold claim considering De Niro's filmography! But think about it the ending of "Taxi Driver" is pretty intense and leaves you with a lot to unpack.
The movie builds up to this violent climax where De Niro's character Travis Bickle goes on a rampage in a brothel. It's brutal shocking and definitely not a typical Hollywood happy ending. Even though Travis does some really dark stuff the movie kind of paints him as a vigilante hero in a twisted way. He "saves" Iris a young prostitute played by Jodie Foster and in the end he's even hailed as a hero by the media. But is he really a hero? That is the question "Taxi Driver" leaves you with.
The ending is ambiguous and unsettling. Travis survives the shootout but it is not clear if he has actually changed as a person. The final scene of him driving off into the night is eerie and suggests that his inner turmoil might just be simmering beneath the surface ready to explode again. It is a film that stays with you long after the credits roll making you question society heroism and the darkness that can exist within people. "Taxi Driver" is definitely a film that shows off De Niro's acting power and his ability to play complex and troubled characters.
Robert De Niro: From Real Estate to Riveting Roles Still a Hollywood Force
So from selling apartments to starring in new series and having classic movies dissected Robert De Niro is still very much a Hollywood icon. Whether he's making headlines for real estate deals diving into political thrillers on Netflix or having his legendary performances re-examined De Niro remains fascinating and relevant. He's a true legend who keeps us talking and watching decade after decade.