Pacino or DeNiro?

[DavidMn]

I thought it would be fun after tonight wathcing the movie Heat and Goodfellas and also The Godfather part 2 to ask which of these great actors you prefer and why? It's close but I think I'd have to pick Robert DeNiro by a hair. I'm not an expert on acting but I just like his style a little more is probably the best way I could put it.

[Dodfather]

Being a film geek/student...I have had this very conversation so many, many times! For me it just has to be Pacino. As great as DeNiro has been at times I just think that Pacino is more consistently brilliant. There's an argument that The King Of Comedy is maybe DeNiro's last great performaance while, Cruising aside, Pacino has continued to make great stuff through the 90s and 2000s like Carlito's Way and Any Given Sunday whereas DeNiro has slipped into self parody. Heat is of course an exception, but I'm still not overly keen on the scene where they play with the crockery!

The one thing I always end up saying in this argument is that there's someone who was doing great work at the same time as them in the 70s, who continued to do so through the 80s and right up until now and who never gets a mention...let's hear it for Gene Hackman! Seriously...Bonnie and Clyde, The Conversation, Mississippi Burning, Superman, Heist, Runaway Jury, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Chamber, Enemy Of The State... he just keeps on making quality stuff! He's just not as flashy as DeNiro so keeps getting overlooked... Best not mention Superman IV though! Then again, Pacina had Cruising and DeNiro has had Hide and Seek and Rocky and Bullwinkle!

[TrueFaith77]

De Niro is always at least interesting, even in movies like Stardust. To forget what is arguably his greatest performance, City by the Sea (2002!), is really unfairly tipping the balance. In other words, De Niro, Pacino, and Nicholson are the undisputed greatest living American actors. They remain the most consistently amazing performers on the American screen. However, for me, if I HAD TO CHOOSE, the title would have to be given to Al because his Michael Corleone is the greatest male characterization in the history of American cinema. And, yes, I refer to all three Godfather films.

[GODDESS6]

this is hard choice, seeing as i lov them both~ but i always say pacino is my fave male actor of all time~ i don't think i have seen a film of his i didn't like~ & i think i have seen scarface over 200 times~

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

In other words, De Niro, Pacino, and Nicholson are the undisputed greatest living American actors. .

Nice to put Nicholson in there, Cockoo's Nest and Chinatown are both incredible and made sure he was always mentioned alongside those 2. Of course The Shining and, latterly, As Good As It Gets. I'm still not a huge fan of Easy Rider, although I understand that it's a very important film (which doesn't always mean good). I still go for Gene Hackman though, haha!

[Richard B]

Al Pacino.
The man is cool. Ran into him once at Target. LOL.

[tilthefirefades]

Al Pacino! Scarface, Heat, 88 Minutes, Righteous Kill(although both were brilliant) are 4 incredible movies.

[daniellaaarisen]

One word: Scarface. You don't get better than that.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

One word: Scarface. You don't get better than that.

I love Pacino, but damnit that movie is over-rated

[Ghost_Tracker]

My answer is, "...Yes!"

[ragrsrocalot]

DeNiro-Because of his facial expressions.

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

I love Pacino, but damnit that movie is over-rated

Absolutely! I say the same about Taxi Driver and Raging Bull for DeNiro.

[iamnotafraid]

I like Pacino the best with movies like:
The Godfather I, II, III (yes, even III)
Scarface
Scent Of A Woman (my favorite of his)
The Devil's Advocate (who else could play that part like Al?)

[chelluversu]

Cape Fear... De Niro scares me lol and Man of Honor has to be my favorite of all time.

Others:
Sleepers
Awakenings
Meet the Parents/Fockers

[Nico]

There was a time where I felt Al Pacino was the coolest and could do no wrong. It was never necessarily that I thought he was a better actor than DeNiro, but he was just so incredible in the 70s that all those performances are absolutely incomparable in my mind. Especially Godfather II. He was just beyond amazing in that.

But Bobby D was always just as incredible, and taking the stars out of my eyes I have to say he has the more distinguished career. He is still giving compelling performances and is still captivating to watch. I've grown to just adore him...whereas Al has pretty much become a caricature of himself and he's always screaming or shouting every other line, and the freaking cop or mobster stuff just gets...old. DeNiro has more range. I love both guys, but my appreciation for each has sort of swapped places.