Al Pacino and Robert De Niro stand out as one of the most iconic duos in Hollywood history. Their performances have gifted cinema with some of its most captivating all-time classic films in all of cinema history like Taxi Driver, Scarface, Raging Bull, and the Godfather series, with Heat being a true gem among them.
Undoubtedly, they are two of the greatest actors of all time. While their on-screen partnership is pure magic, each brings a uniquely lethal style to their performances and has distinctly different approaches to the craft, as per director Michael Mann.
What Is Al Pacino’s Approach to Bringing a Character to Life?
Although Al Pacino and Robert De Niro shine brilliantly together on screen, their approaches to acting are vastly different, which may be why their unique styles complement each other so well.
Al Pacino is known for his intense, highly immersive method, diving deep into his characters with a raw emotionality that takes audiences by surprise. In a New York Times interview, director Michael Mann reflected on Pacino’s distinctive style while working on Heat, noting how his passionate performances create an electrifying atmosphere that elevates the film. He said,
There’s a thesis and an antithesis, and they have some characteristics in common, and the ones that aren’t in common are polar opposites, Al learns his dialogue two weeks ahead of time — it’s a free-form, psychological absorption.
Method acting is at the heart of Pacino’s approach, and he fully embraced this technique while on set. He often for most films chose to stay completely in character throughout the entire shoot, taking every detail into account. For instance, he intentionally kept his eyes out of focus, walked with a cane, and avoided making direct eye contact with the cast and crew on Scent of a Woman.
This goes to show how extremely detail-oriented he is, he learns every line meticulously, leaving no room for error.
Michael Mann Reveals How “Radically” Opposite Robert De Niro’s Approach Is from Al Pacino!
In contrast, Robert De Niro thrives on spontaneity, embracing the moment and allowing his character to guide him through each scene. In the same interview, Mann revealed,
Bob is determined to be completely in the moment, they both have a total artistic immersion — the way they get to that is radically different.
De Niro doesn’t just inhabit his characters, he reshapes the narrative around them, often rewriting dialogue to capture the nuances of everyday speech, improvising scenes to simulate genuine spontaneity, and even selecting his own costumes.
He also fully immerses himself in his characters, just in a way that is a polar contrast with Al Pacino’s method. While Pacino embodies an intense, focused approach, De Niro’s performances feel instinctive and organic. Every aspect of his work is deliberate, ensuring that nothing in a De Niro film is left to chance yet there is plenty of room for him to play around.
His talent for improvisation and ability to roll with the punches not only adds depth to his characters but also spices up the entire cinematic experience, making each performance a delightful adventure that keeps audiences on their toes!
Heat is available on Apple TV to rent.
