Pacino or DeNiro: saddest recent career

[CaptainCanada]

Two of the unquestioned greatest actors of the 20th century, with three Oscars and another eleven nominations between them. Neither has been nominated since the early 90s (DeNiro 1991, for Cape Feare; Pacino in 1993, for Glengarry Glen Ross and The Scent of a Woman), and in the 21st century, both of their resumes are...rather bad. In most of their movies they're coasting and on past roles.

So, who's had it worse?

For me, DeNiro; he had a cute camp part in Stardust, but, apart from that, what is there in the 21st century (he's faired a bit better as a director; The Good Shepherd was good)? He's made a lot more recent movies than Pacino, and there's a huge amount of schlock there.

Pacino at least has Angels in America and a really good film version of The Merchant of Venice, even if a lot of his other performances are just him shouting a lot.

 

[Goliath]

Definitely De Niro.

In addition to a fine turn as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, I thought Pacino gave a very good (and unusually understated) performance in Christopher Nolan's Insomnia.

In fact, I remember thinking that they were the best performances I'd seen him give in years. Maybe he just needs a director like Nolan to rein him in and keep him from chewing on the scenery.

 

[Mr Light]

I would say DeNiro for doing all the comedies. At least Pacino tends to stick to 'serious' films. Though I do LIKE DeNiro in his lame comedies! Just not as a distinguished actor.

 

[T'Baio]

I think Harrison Ford has the status of the saddest.

That guy used to be my hero. Now he sucks harder than Jenna Jameson...but she's made better movies more recently.

 

[Broccoli]

Well, DeNiro has been the busiest of the three actors mentioned here, with 18 movies since 2000. Pacino has released 12 since 2000. Ford has released 8.

However, I would say that DeNiro has the better career right now. The movies that he picks, while they range from serious to goofy comedies, usually tend to be very successful.

Pacino's films have done modestly well, but in nowhere near as well as "current" DeNiro.

Ford almost seems like he is in semi-retirement, so I don't know if you really can legitimately compare him to the other two.

 

[Aragorn]

Just as long as none of them go out with a whimper like Sean Connery (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Warren Beatty (Town and Country) or Gene Hackman (Welcome to Mooseport).