Hollywood has long embodied the American Dream: a glittering world of fame, fortune, and creative triumph. Yet beneath the red carpets and spotlights lies a realm rife with cutthroat competition, broken promises, and shattered ambitions. It was against this backdrop that a seismic shift occurred in the late 1960s. The decline of the restrictive Hays Code, the ascendancy of television, and the influence of European art-house cinema opened the door for a new wave of storytellers and performers—an era forever known as “New Hollywood.”
Studios, desperate to reclaim audiences, entrusted a cadre of youthful, visionary filmmakers with greater creative freedom. This generation—Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, and Michael Cimino among them—married raw realism with daring narrative experimentation. Their work, often darker and more personal than studio fare of previous decades, demanded a new breed of actors capable of embodying complex, morally ambiguous characters.
The Emergence of Robert De Niro
Among the pioneers of New Hollywood, one actor rapidly distinguished himself: Robert De Niro. Born in 1943 in Manhattan, De Niro honed his craft at Stella Adler’s studio and in off-Broadway productions before landing minor film roles in the mid-1960s. His breakthrough arrived in 1973’s Mean Streets, directed by Scorsese. De Niro’s portrayal of Charlie, a small-time hood torn between faith and street code, announced him as a force to be reckoned with—intense, unpredictable, and utterly compelling.
Just two years later, in The Godfather Part II (1974), De Niro delivered a performance for the ages. Tasked with portraying the young Vito Corleone—immortalized by Marlon Brando in the first film—he mastered Brando’s measured cadence and magnetic presence, earning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This role cemented De Niro’s place among the Hollywood elite and set the stage for a decades-long collaboration with Scorsese that would yield classics such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas.
Al Pacino: De Niro’s On-Screen and Off-Screen Counterpart
Meanwhile, Al Pacino—born in 1940 in the Bronx—was forging his own legendary path. A product of the Actors Studio, Pacino burst into public consciousness as Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972). His chilling restraint and inner turmoil made the reluctant family heir an instant icon. Unlike De Niro’s street-tough authenticity, Pacino’s intensity was volcanic—eyes ablaze, voice quivering with suppressed emotion. He followed with powerhouse turns in Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, and …And Justice for All, rapidly becoming the preeminent leading man of the 1970s.
Though both actors appeared in The Godfather Part II, they never shared a scene until Michael Mann’s Heat (1995). Their long-awaited on-screen meeting—De Niro’s professional thief versus Pacino’s dedicated detective—became cinema lore, showcasing a dynamic interplay between two titans whose styles both contrasted and complemented. Their third major collaboration, The Irishman (2019), reunited them under Scorsese’s direction for an elegiac exploration of loyalty, aging, and regret.
A Playful Rivalry and Deep Friendship
Given their parallel trajectories, De Niro and Pacino have often been pitted against each other by critics and fans alike. Yet for the actors themselves, this rivalry has been less about discord and more about mutual admiration. In a 2005 tribute by the American Cinematheque, De Niro offered a delightfully self-deprecating assessment of his generation’s greatest thespian:
“Al, over the years we’ve taken roles from one another. People have tried to compare us to one another, to pit us against each other and to tear us apart personally. I’ve never seen the comparison, frankly. I’m clearly much taller, more the leading-man type. Honestly, you just may be the finest actor of our generation. With the possible exception of me, frankly.”
This quip perfectly encapsulates the respect and camaraderie between the two men—acknowledging Pacino’s unparalleled talent while humorously asserting his own claim to greatness. Their playful banter has endured alongside a friendship that spans more than half a century.
Defining Excellence: What Makes Pacino “The Finest”?
De Niro’s declaration invites a closer look at what distinguishes Pacino’s craft. Several qualities stand out:
- Emotional Rawness: Pacino’s performances are characterized by a visceral emotional honesty. He channels anger, fear, desire, and remorse with an intensity that can be overwhelming. In Dog Day Afternoon (1975), his portrayal of a desperate bank robber captures the raw edge of human vulnerability under extreme pressure.
- Transformative Commitment: Like De Niro, Pacino immerses himself fully in roles. He famously underwent months of preparation for Serpico, meeting with real undercover cops to inhabit the subtleties of his character’s moral crusade.
- A Spectrum of Characters: From the sleek, poised Michael Corleone to the tormented, blind protagonist in And Justice for All (1979), Pacino has charted an extraordinary range—comedic, tragic, heroic, and antiheroic. Even in later career phases, with films like The Merchant of Venice (2004) and You Don’t Know Jack (2010), he continues to take creative risks.
- Charismatic Magnetism: Pacino’s presence demands attention. His voice, modulated between a whisper and a roar, his piercing gaze, and his instinct for dramatic tension create an inescapable pull on audiences—a hallmark of cinematic stardom.
De Niro’s Own Legacy: Raising the Bar for Method Acting
If Pacino represents raw intensity, De Niro exemplifies meticulous transformation. Their shared theatrical roots and dedication to authenticity have profoundly influenced American cinema. Key facets of De Niro’s approach include:
- Physical Immersion: He famously put on 60 pounds to play boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980), then stripped back to his physically prime self to convey the character’s fearsome ring prowess—earning him an Oscar for Best Actor.
- Psychological Depth: In Taxi Driver (1976), his portrayal of Travis Bickle—a lonely, unhinged taxi driver—combines layered vulnerability with simmering violence, reflecting a character study as complex as any on Broadway.
- Collaborative Synergy: De Niro’s long rapport with director Scorsese has produced some of Hollywood’s most enduring works. Their symbiotic process—De Niro’s improvisation and Scorsese’s visual flair—redefined gangster cinema and inspired countless filmmakers.
A Model for Generations of Actors
The legacies of De Niro and Pacino extend far beyond their filmographies. Together, they embody a paradigm of actor as auteur, elevating performance to an art form that rivals direction, cinematography, and screenplay. Many contemporary actors—Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Joaquin Phoenix—cite De Niro and Pacino as formative influences, adopting aspects of their techniques and intensity.
De Niro’s playful pronouncement that Pacino is the finest of their generation, “with the possible exception” of himself, hints at a profound truth: excellence in acting is not a zero-sum game. Rather, it is a shared pursuit of emotional truth, storytelling craft, and fearless artistry.
Enduring Friendship Amid Hollywood’s Turbulence
That De Niro and Pacino have sustained a decades-long friendship—despite operating in an industry that often pits talent against talent—speaks to their mutual respect and personal bond. They have navigated backstage politics, critical rivalries, and the pressures of stardom, yet managed to support each other personally and professionally. Their friendship is a testament to collegiality in a field infamous for ego clashes.
Conclusion: A Tribute to Two Living Legends
Robert De Niro’s acknowledgment of Al Pacino as “the finest actor of our generation, with the possible exception of me,” is equal parts homage and lighthearted self-promotion. It shines a spotlight on two artists whose careers have shaped the contours of modern cinema. As New Hollywood’s torchbearers, De Niro and Pacino have defined excellence through raw emotion, immersive technique, and transformative performances—setting a standard that continues to inspire.
In an industry where comparison can breed jealousy and division, their enduring friendship and mutual admiration remind us that greatness is compounded when shared. For audiences past, present, and future, the dynamic duo of De Niro and Pacino remains a beacon of what acting at its highest level can achieve: a mirror to the human soul, rendered unforgettable through the alchemy of two of Hollywood’s most revered figures.
READ MORE: Magda Szubanski Reveals Stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Diagnosis, Begins Treatment
