MovieChat Forums > Heat (1995) Discussion > Pacino vs. De Niro

Pacino vs. De Niro

posted 7 years ago by IMDBcooper1971
6 replies | jump to latest

Just out of interest, which actor do you think has turned out better in terms of their more recent careers? I've read many fan reviews of the later work of the two which cite Heat as both Pacino and De Niro's last unmissable film, which seems strange as they're both great actors and Heat was over two decades ago.
Both actors have made some questionable choices, certainly, with De Niro in Dirty Grandpa and Pacino in an Adam Sandler movie. Though I've seen a few of their more recent movies and thought a few were quite entertaining and not too bad there wasn't really any that made me think this is an unmissable Pacino or De Niro film (I'm open to being proved wrong here as I can't claim to have seen all their films since 1995).

Just for fun, who do you think has had the better career of the last 20 years with Heat being the cut-off point?

(No disrespect to either actor as I'm a big fan of both).

[–] Silent_Bob01 7 years ago

De Niro has been MUCH more in the public eye over the past 20 years, and has taken on more embarrassing roles, although Pacino hasn't exactly distinguished himself either.

Post-Heat though, De Niro has done some fantastic work...

Cop Land
Jackie Brown
Wag the Dog
Ronin (awesome)
Analyze This (has its moments)
Meet the Parents (undeniably funny)
The Good Shepherd
Silver Linings Playbook
American Hustle (cameo)

There's a LOT of junk mixed in with these films, but he's still capable of being great.

Pacino...sort of the same, but on a smaller scale...

Donnie Brasco (fantastic)
The Insider (criminally underrated)
The Devil's Advocate (hamming it up big-time, but entertaining)
Any Given Sunday (same)
Insomnia (great film)
Angels in America (great HBO mini-series, although he didn't really capture the true evil of Roy Cohn)

Insomnia was in 2002, and he hasn't done much since. I saw Righteous Kill and Ocean's Thirteen, and neither impressed.

De Niro has definitely cashed in with junk roles more than Pacino, but he's also worked more consistently. I'd give De Niro the slight edge.

[–] stones78 7 years ago

is this a case of who "overacted" the most?

[–] Silent_Bob01 7 years ago

Well if THAT'S the question, then it's Pacino, no doubt.

[–] stones78 7 years ago

That's why I can't take this film seriously, and refuse to watch it again. It's like Pacino was told to ad-lib his character for the whole film.

[–] Silent_Bob01 7 years ago

The OP's question, though, is: who's had the better career over the past 20 years or so, not just who was better in this film.

[–] slimone (7996) 7 years ago

I loved De Niro's recent film The Intern as well as Pacino's Danny Collins.