A lot can change in a quarter of a century.
That’s the amount of time it took Robert De Niro to go from Raging Bull to Meet the Fockers, and 25 years also saw Louis van Gaal graduate from exciting young Ajax boss to the sort of person who receives Twitter abuse from people called @mayor_bangz.
It didn’t have to be like this. Some people adapt to changing circumstances – just look at Matthew McConaughey, or Arsene Wenger. Not Van Gaal, though.
That early-90s Ajax team was just sensational. It brought together the best of Dutch youth talent and the refined contributions of Jari Litmanen and Nwankwo Kanu.
Similarly, De Niro blended exuberance and unlikely depth in Mean Streets and The Godfather Part II, two of the early roles which helped identify him as one of the greatest talents of his generation.
The issue comes when you have to adapt to everything changing around you.
Sure, the get-out of ‘doing it for your kids’ will fly for a short time. That’s how so many renowned actors got away with taking part in the Harry Potter films.
We wouldn’t want to begrudge De Niro his role in Stardust, or Van Gaal’s decision to come home and take over the Dutch national team one last time.
The issue comes not with those performances, but with what would come after.
When you’re getting on in years and someone throws a ton of money at you, you can do one of two things.
You can stick to your principles and only take projects you feel you have a connection to, or you can sign Anthony Martial make The Big Wedding.
The longer this continues, the closer we are to having to make a difficult call. Were Van Gaal and De Niro carried by their peers, or are they just once-great individuals who have allowed the game to pass them by?
Much of De Niro’s best work came alongside Martin Scorsese, an incomparable talent who brought the best out of those around him.
In the 80s and 90s, when others of a similar age were ceasing to draw big Hollywood contracts, the American was producing some of his best performances in The King of Comedy and Goodfellas.
Similarly, Van Gaal was fortunate enough to be able to work with the likes of Patrick Kluivert and Rivaldo, helping him bring success to Ajax and Barcelona, before enjoying a resurgence thanks to a helping hand from Arjen Robben (now there’s someone whose acting has remained convincing against all odds).
#Brasil2014 #WorldCup #MEXvsNED #robbed #noerapenal pic.twitter.com/IYOsUAxB3W
— m.mina (@marianamire) June 30, 2014
Sure, it’s tempting to take the easy option now and again, like Last Vegas or Marouane Fellaini, but by doing so you’re doing yourself a disservice.
Soon, you might start to think about your legacy, and try to prove you can produce one last great performance.
Before you ask, that cameo in American Hustle doesn’t count. Nor does a smash-and-grab win at Anfield.
When that happens you have to go it alone. No needless crutches, like Wayne Rooney or the ‘family comedy’ genre.
De Niro still has time to turn it around. Can Van Gaal do the same?
