Al Pacino vs. Robert De Niro

Come on, don't be like that: he was in Rourke (alongside Jean Michel Vincent) and in 'Buffalo 66' 😉

Keith Jones19 said:I'm guessing you haven't seen Robert De Niro playing that shady character in Angel Heart...

🙏

Al Pacino 🤣

Rajka said:Neither. They're both overrated.

I'd love to hear you drop a name that actually lives up to the hype...

Keith Jones19 said:Come on, don't be like that: he was in Rourke's film (alongside Jean Michel Vincent) and also in 'Buffalo 66'...😉

Plus, he was solid in that thriller Johnny Depp did, where he played that disfigured robber.👍

Robert De Niro

I first crossed paths with Al Pacino through endless viewings of The Godfather Part II, and I met Robert De Niro via Taxi Driver. If I had to pick, it’s Al Pacino, mostly because of what someone mentioned earlier regarding his sheer transformational ability. His performance in The Godfather Part II is basically why that movie stands as one of those rare sequels that actually outshines the original. In that film, most of his heavy-hitting scenes radiate this kind of coiled, intense energy that turns every single moment into a tiny thriller—just pure tension and suspense. It eventually became his trademark. Like someone else noted, that build-up and sudden eruption can get exhausting sometimes, but when he finally lets it go, it’s like a volcanic blast. His most psychotic work is definitely Scarface. In that one, he never seems to settle; he’s always in motion, always on edge, gripped by this incredible, unsolvable paranoia. It’s the blood of a man realizing the true nature of the USA and everything it promises; he isn't chasing the American Dream so much as he's living an American nightmare. Pacino is pure talent. The way he commands a scene is staggering, and his delivery—that knack for breathing life into mere words—is unmatched. Where he really pulls ahead, though, is in the supporting roles. He finds a level of subtlety there that catches you off guard; he’s convincing even when he isn't the lead, like in Donnie Brasco or Scent of a Woman and Franky and Johnny. Robert De Niro’s range in those kinds of supporting parts feels pretty thin—think Mad Dog and Glory and things like that. Also, his comedies? Third-rate. At least for me.

Gerald Barrett25 said:His most psychotic work has to be Scarface. In that movie, there’s this constant, restless energy—just pure, unadulterable paranoia that you can't shake. It's the blood of a man realizing what the USA actually offers; he doesn't have time for the American Dream when he's already living the nightmare.

And a bravura performance in Glengarry Glen Ross?

Is there really any bravura in >?

I mean, what am I even trying to say here... 😉 but honestly, I still view that movie as this massive collective effort where everything just clicks in a way you rarely see... plus, you've got >. What I'm getting at is... there are so many moving parts in that film beyond just > himself, so maybe it isn't entirely fair to pin it all on him.

Al Pacino has this tendency to slide right into being overly dramatic, almost theatrical ( Woo-h! 😁 ). He really needs a solid director to keep him in check, because once he's reined in, the guy is absolute gold.

Gerald Barrett25 said:What I meant was 😉—but regardless, I’m viewing that film as this rare, synergistic collective effort... plus there's Mamet. What I'm getting at is... there are more moving parts in that movie than just Al Pacino himself, so maybe it isn't fair to credit him alone.

Fair enough. I stand corrected. It's a catalog of masculine acting—you can't even pick a favorite. What really struck me, though, is how they deliver that Mamet dialogue—which I could talk about until tomorrow night's game starts—strictly word-for-word. No loose improvisations within the script. That is true professionalism and respect for the work you're doing.

Robert De Niro has a much broader range. He even took a shot at comedies that weren't exactly his usual thing, and he killed it. It goes without saying that both of them are in a league of their own.

1. Dustin Hoffman (absolutely incredible—he plays everyone from diplomats to gritty street types; you feel like you're watching entirely different people... which is what acting actually is, unlike Ashton Kutcher who always just plays some hot, reckless brat, or Jennifer Aniston who basically plays the same character every single time)
2. Al Pacino (so convincing and charismatic, not to mention he's just incredibly attractive to me)
3. And then there's Robert De Niro (the only time he felt truly "different" to me was in Frankenstein, if I recall correctly)

Sarah Thompson61 said:1. Dustin Hoffman (absolutely brilliant—he can play the diplomat, the gritty underdog, the lonely guy in the rain... it’s like you’re watching entirely different people! That is what real acting looks like—unlike someone like Ashton Kutcher, who always seems to be playing the same handsome, slightly dim-witted college kid, or Jennifer Aniston, who pretty much plays the exact same character in every single role.)
2. Al Pacino (so convincing, just pure charisma—and honestly, he is incredibly magnetic to watch.)
3. And then, finally, Robert De Niro (the only time I really felt he was "different" was in Frankenstein, if my memory serves me right.)

I think I’d actually swap number 1 and 2! To me, Al Pacino is 😍 just something else with that intense, piercing gaze of his.

nimbledriver81 said:I would swap 1 and 2. Al Pacino is 😍 with that intense stare of his...

that look is predatory, not nearsighted...
I think any woman would fall for him...
it really says everything in that gaze...😉

Al Pacino... Scent of a Woman... man, oh man...

I’ve noticed nobody has brought up Robert De Niro’s incredible performance in Taxi Driver. Specifically that scene where he takes out the pimp and his crew to save that young girl. Then there’s Rage, or maybe it was Raging Bull—it’s been a while since I sat through that one... But honestly, the only Al Pacino film that actually works for me is Dog Afternoon...👍

crimsonmoose3 said:The only decent movie featuring Al Pacino, in my opinion, is Dog Afternoon...👍

So, what's your excuse for dismissing The Godfather Part II, Scarface, Sea of Love, Glengarry Glen Ross, Carlito's Way, and The Insider?

I’ve always had a bit more of a soft spot for Robert De Niro—really, I have—but honestly, he’s lost some of that charm for me lately after those ridiculous commercials for Amex. It was just such a questionable move...

crimsonmoose3 said:I noticed nobody brought up Robert De Niro's incredible performance in Taxi Driver. Especially that scene where he takes out the pimp and his crew to save that young girl. Or maybe Cape Fear with Nick Nolte, or Raging Bull (if I remember correctly...). But my only favorite Al Pacino movie is Dog Afternoon...👍

Taxi Driver is a masterpiece and De Niro is brilliant. Exactly right...

Dog Afternoon is my favorite Pacino film... and Serpico too...

northerncrane4 said:How can you claim that Scarface, Sea of Love, Glengarry Glen Ross, Carlito's Way, and Insider aren't great movies?

I'm not exactly a film fanatic who keeps an encyclopedic memory of everything, for heaven's sake...🙄