Righteous Kill - De Niro and Pacino back together again!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Nov 2007, 00:43

http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=21419

Included in the link is a semi-trailer. It's not really a trailer but more a rough cut of test footage.

Oh boy De Niro and Pacino on the big screen again, there is no way this can possibly fail, even if it turns out to be a turd it won't fail. I'll be seeing it for sure. It's also good to see De Niro possibly pick a good role after so long.

The director is a little worrying, his biggest films to date are "Red Corner" (starring Richard Gere), "Up Close & Personal" and "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe".

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 09 Nov 2007, 00:54

What has either actor done recently that REALLY stood out?

They're both great actors when they want to be, dont get me wrong... but TBH... I'll just wait and see what will come of this. As you say, the director looks worrysome.
You'd think that of those guys are willing to appear together on-screen again, they would be able to get the best director possible for the job...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Nov 2007, 01:10

De Niro when he can be bothered still has lots of talent but agreed he can rarely be bothered. Pacino on the other hand can at least pick a reasonable film (for the most part) to star in. Pacino's last great film was 5 years ago (People I know) whereas De Niro's was 9 years ago (Ronin).

Regardless both of them on screen together at the same time is enough for me to get excited.

Yi-Long wrote:You'd think that of those guys are willing to appear together on-screen again, they would be able to get the best director possible for the job...

Agreed that is worrying.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 09 Nov 2007, 11:46

Can't say this news means anything to me, great actors are cast together in films all the time, yet for some reason the Pacino-DeNiro team up is considered the holy grail of casting by overzealous film fans. Meh!

Also, what's with the internet revisionism of Ronin becoming a "great film" all of a sudden? It's an extremely average film livened up by some impressive car chases, and back when it was released it was quit rightly viewed as such pretty much uniformly by critics in the US and the UK - not to mention most film fans as well!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Nov 2007, 14:14

Shingster wrote:Can't say this news means anything to me, great actors are cast together in films all the time, yet for some reason the Pacino-DeNiro team up is considered the holy grail of casting by overzealous film fans. Meh!

Agreed on the first part of your sentence but this is DE NIRO and PACINO. The scene in Heat is electrifying. I happen to think Pacino "today" is a much better actor, he still always impresses me (at least he makes an effort). De Niro virtually never even bothers to act any more. Pacino is also one of my favourite American actors ever.

Shingster wrote:Also, what's with the internet revisionism of Ronin becoming a "great film" all of a sudden?

I happen to agree to an extent. I picked Ronin as by De Niro standards of today it's his last great or should that be decent film. I do think it's enjoyable but not outstanding like most.

I probably mixed my words (great when I meant decent) for the wrongs reasons.

One film I've never understood why it's so popular is "The Shawshank Redemption". Sure it's a good film but a masterpiece or outstanding? Come one. It's not anywhere near. So many people consider it the best film of all time. I say to that "watch more films!".

I never bothered to upgrade my perfectly good Region 4 DVD and am now going to sell that too.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 09 Nov 2007, 14:59

I liked 70's Pacino best. Godfather, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon. Excellent.

I didnt care much for Heat. Pacino and DeNiro are both good in it, but it all didnt interest me much tbh. A bit boring. Didnt think the scene with them together was 'brilliant'. Just a nice, good scene with good actors, talking about the what if's and such...
Ofcourse it's good. But I feel it's overrated by those who say it's brilliant. It's all a pretty low-key affair.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 09 Nov 2007, 15:10

Shingster wrote:Also, what's with the internet revisionism of Ronin becoming a "great film" all of a sudden? It's an extremely average film livened up by some impressive car chases

Agreed.

DeNiro's last great film was CASINO.

bradavon wrote:One film I've never understood why it's so popular is "The Shawshank Redemption". Sure it's a good film but a masterpiece or outstanding? Come one. It's not anywhere near. So many people consider it the best film of all time. I say to that "watch more films!".

Blasphemy. That's my favourite film. Take it back or I'll send 'round some burly blokes in balaclavas to pay you a visit.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Nov 2007, 15:36

DeNiro's last great film was CASINO.

Which came out after Casino or Heat? Whichever did is De Niro's last great performance and also film.

Both Ronin and Jackie Brown afterwards are also decent too though. De Niro hasn't bothered to act since those two.

Yi-Long wrote:I liked 70's Pacino best. Godfather, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon. Excellent.

Agreed. The same goes for De Niro's work. The 70s was easily the best decade for film and musical artistic freedom.

Yi-Long wrote:A bit boring. Didnt think the scene with them together was 'brilliant'. Just a nice, good scene with good actors, talking about the what if's and such...
Ofcourse it's good. But I feel it's overrated by those who say it's brilliant. It's all a pretty low-key affair.

Obviously I couldn't disagree more. Heat is brilliant and Mann's best film.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 09 Nov 2007, 16:27

bradavon wrote: Both Ronin and Jackie Brown afterwards are also decent too though.

You mean acting or film? As for film quality, Ronin is very good and Jackie Brown perfection.

bradavon wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:A bit boring. Didnt think the scene with them together was 'brilliant'. Just a nice, good scene with good actors, talking about the what if's and such...
Ofcourse it's good. But I feel it's overrated by those who say it's brilliant. It's all a pretty low-key affair.
Obviously I couldn't disagree more. Heat is brilliant and Mann's best film.

Definitely. And one of the three best crime films of the 90's...

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 09 Nov 2007, 17:23

I thought HEAT was overrated, apart from a good gunfight midway thru.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 09 Nov 2007, 17:59

You mean acting or film? As for film quality, Ronin is very good and Jackie Brown perfection.

The acting in both is fine, neither are perfection though.

And one of the three best crime films of the 90's...

What are the other two?

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 09 Nov 2007, 18:09

bradavon wrote: What are the other two?

Casino and something else. Jackie Brown if you count it as crime film.

Shingster · Post by **Shingster** » 09 Nov 2007, 18:12

Casino ain't a crime film, it's a mafia biopic. L.A Confidential, Usual Suspects, Heat. Now there's 3 excellent 90s crime films!

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 09 Nov 2007, 20:01

Shingster wrote:Casino ain't a crime film, it's a mafia biopic.

Fair enough. Heat is then one the one best crime films of the 90's.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 09 Nov 2007, 20:10

Casino is about a guy being pussywhipped by a slut.

The movie starts out great and interesting, until Stone comes into it, and it's DeNiro acting like a pussy from then on.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Nov 2007, 00:17

I've only seen Heat once, but what I liked about it was the attention to detail. Even pretty insignificant characters like the getaway driver were developed and could be sympathised with.

I really couldn't give a damn about the novelty of having DeNiro and Pacino on screen at the same time. To me it's just a superbly done cat-and-mouse crime thriller, by one of today's most anal retentive directors (see first paragraph).

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Nov 2007, 00:23

You didn't find the scene electrifying? Thankfully the rest of the film is also excellent too. Come on Warner release on HD and this time bloody remaster it. The SE picture quality is the same as the old DVD and needs upgrading.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 10 Nov 2007, 00:49

bradavon wrote:You didn't find the scene electrifying?

The one where they meet at the cafe or whatever? Meh.

The SE picture quality is the same as the old DVD and needs upgrading.

The transfer of the SE DVD looked fine to me.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Nov 2007, 01:26

The one where they meet at the cafe or whatever? Meh.

You're banned!

The transfer of the SE DVD looked fine to me.

The colours are washed out. It's not a disaster but Warner should've remastered it.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 10 Nov 2007, 02:04

Didn't anyone think it was wierd that a cop asks a robber to have a cup of coffee with him, and he's like "OK, mate"?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Nov 2007, 02:13

Nope. They were both finding out information about each other, that's crucial to the plot.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 10 Nov 2007, 07:13

Agree with Brad about "Shawshank Redemption". I read the book before I watched the film. It was only when I started browsing the internet in 2000 or so, that I found out it was considered one of the best films.

"Analyse This" was a great film in my opinion, because DeNiro in this film he makes so much fun of so many roles that he played.

This new film looks very interesting. Looking forward to it.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Nov 2007, 16:09

"Analyse This" was a great film in my opinion, because DeNiro in this film he makes so much fun of so many roles that he played.

Sadly it doesn't make it in the slightest bit funny. I found it so dull. I ended up having to give it away. No one wanted it for sale or trade.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 10 Nov 2007, 20:08

bradavon wrote:Nope. They were both finding out information about each other, that's crucial to the plot.

Ah, I see. If only all crims were so considerate. 8)

Cop: So what are you planning next?

Crim: An armed robbery.

Cop: Where?

Crim: I can't tell you that.

Cop: Aw, go on. It would make my life a lot easier.

Crim: Well.... alright then. Since you paid for the cream cakes and tea.

Cop: Result!!!

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 10 Nov 2007, 20:32