And perhaps an endangered one.
That was huge news for someone who looked like me.
Because when I got famous and got to Hollywood, people would talk about how odd I looked.
Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage
I just look at them and say, Well, De Niro likes me.
Thank you, Bob, for making me always think I was cute.
Not sure what that means, but, hey, here I am.
We probably hadnt talked for a year or two maybe, Stiller said.
I will never forget how he was with me.
And in that moment, I felt that the cancer heard Bob and knew not to f with him.
Streep was introduced to a clip of herself and De Niro onscreen nearly 40 years ago inThe Deer Hunter.
She grunted and grimaced wordlessly when explaining how De Niro ordinarily answers questions about the acting process.
Months later, she sawMean Streetsand was stunned that that was Robert De Niro, the same guy!?
He knows something profound about what we do, she continued.
Risk is irresistible to relentless people.
Young actors, when were just walking around clueless in the dark, youre looking for a method.
And heres a guy with a flashlight.
And hes gonna lead you through.
Bob inspires many generations of actors to do their best work.
So we shouldnt ask him how he does it.
He doesnt want to tell us.
De Niro, when he took the stage, did not talk about the art of his craft.
But he did talk about art.
I know you dont give this award out lightly.
I cant think of anyone who deserved it more.
And yet the Film Society waited nearly two decades until afterDirty Grandpawas released to give this to me.
I think I see where youre going.
Everyone knows Chaplin was a great artist.
But he made his movies to entertain.
It was only later that they became art.
And that hasnt changed.
We make movies to entertain audiences.
Audiences vote by seeing them.
Critics vote by seeing them.
And then posterity takes its time to decide if there are or not.
Ive been thinking about this a lot lately because of our governments hostility towards art.
This is what they now call an alternative fact.
I call it what it is: Bullsh.
And by being here tonight, you are supporting arts for everyone.
Give yourselves a hand.
I dont make movies for rich, liberal elites.
Ive got my restaurants for that.
I and all of us speaking here tonight make them for you, for all of you.
Thank you, Film Society of Lincoln Center for bringing together the group of people who spoke tonight.
These are my friends, my family.
Weve worked together, played together, and over decades have become close.
Im honored to have you all in my life.
To me familys everything.
I hope were not keeping out the next Chaplin.
For the movies, Hollywood is a place, an industry, and a state of mind.
But New York, New York is home.
