Robert De Niro, who is quite possibly one of the best actors of the last thirty years, has been given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Film Institute.

Local film critic and professor of journalism and communication, Tom Beell, said part of De Niro’s success comes from his ability to play several different types of roles. This skill shows his versatility as an actor.

“He brings himself into his roles,” Beell said, “He’s like a male Meryl Streep.”

The commitment De Niro possesses for his roles can especially be seen in “Raging Bull,” directed by Martin Scorsese, where he played prizefighter Jake La Motta.

“De Niro literally put on weight to look like him,” Beell said. By the conclusion of the film, his character has transformed from a thin, muscular man to someone very overweight.

“Taxi Driver,” also directed by Scorsese, is another movie in which De Niro displays his wonderfully unique ability to put himself into his roles. Beell recalls his performance as “stunning.”

“He was a psychotic nutcase,” Beell said.

Spencer Walker, junior in graphic design, said, “De Niro was completely insane in that movie.”

Beell thinks of De Niro as one of those actors who always seems a little over the top.

“If he’s in a scene, he will be the one you look at,” Beell said.

Beell attributed this to the dynamism existing in De Niro’s presence. He said he distinctly remembers this about De Niro’s role in “The Godfather Part II.”

“He was beautiful,” Beell said.

Beell said De Niro’s role in “The Godfather Part II” may have limited his career to an extent. Beell thinks this is due to De Niro being typecast into similar roles following the success of his Academy Award-winning role in this popular mobster series.

As for De Niro’s most recent work, Beell said it seems as if De Niro is doing spoofs of his earlier performances.

“He is being goofy about his past characters,” Beell said.

“He seems like he’s a lot more willing to play not-so-serious roles now,” Walker said.

De Niro can be seen in this type of role in “Meet The Parents,” in which he plays a retired CIA agent who is masquerading as a florist, or as depressed mobster Paul Vitti in “Analyze This” and its sequel, “Analyze That.”

“I can’t remember a recent movie he was taken seriously in,” Beell said. “The audience expects him to play some kind of weird screwball.”

Beell described this as unfortunate because De Niro is a great actor. Another difference between De Niro’s past and more recent performances is his appearance. Beell described him as “older and craggier.”

“He is not as handsome today, but it seems to work well for his roles in recent years,” Beell said.

Walker said, “He’s aged well. It looks like he’s still in good shape.”

The two hour tribute to the double Oscar-winning actor will be aired June 23 on USA Network.

Beell said the AFI has done a really good job of selecting distinguished actors over the years and has contributed a lot to the movie industry. Past winners include James Stewart, Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock, Jack Lemmon and Bette Davis.

“One of the problems with the movie business is that it’s a business that produces a product to market. It is less interested with the artistic side. AFI draws attention to the artistic side,” Beell said.