Movies Gene Hackman or Robert De Niro - Who's the better actor?

[BisexualMMA]

Those are good comparisons. Both fabulous actors indeed. Do you think Steiger influenced Hackman as an actor?

Maybe. They were kind of from the same mold physically, Steiger a bit less physically intimidating but neither classically handsome, both with curly hair that had been falling out for a while. If Hackman had wanted to see a guy of his "type" succeeding then Steiger is kind of the best guy that comes to mind.

Hackman and Hoffman were friends from before they were successful, so those guys back in those days had lots of peers to influence each other, like Pacino and Cazale, etc.

Steiger wasn't much older than Hackman but had been successful for quite a bit longer and he was one of the early Brando era method actors. There's no way Hackman wouldn't have seen him on On the Waterfront and The Pawnbroker etc.

 

[burningspear]

Hackman seems more consistent, Deniro has been terrible many times in his later career.

 

[Uber_Noober]

Hackman

Hackman 6'2"
Deniro 5'7"

It's a no brainer

 

[gluehuffer1776]

Hackman because i don't like Robert's politics

 

[drstrangelov]

I would say Rod Steiger had that goofiness. His role in In the Heat of the Night was very Gene Hackman style in my opinion.

That’s the only one of his movies I can remember seeing, I think he lacked Hackmans leading man authority a bit, but I can’t refer to any of his other work to confirm that. Good movie, good performance. The comparison still works, I guess, you can certainly see a lot of that in the Mississippi Burning, In the Heat of the Night comparison.

 

[Chesten_Hesten]

Hackman.

 

[BisexualMMA]

That’s the only one of his movies I can remember seeing, I think he lacked Hackmans leading man authority a bit, but I can’t refer to any of his other work to confirm that. Good movie, good performance. The comparison still works, I guess, you can certainly see a lot of that in the Mississippi Burning, In the Heat of the Night comparison.

Well if you're ever interested, The Pawnbroker, On the Waterfront and FIST are worth checking out. Doctor Zhivago, The Amityville Horror, The Longest Day. He played Napoleon in Waterloo.

The Specialist with Stallone was kind of his last hurrah and he definitely added some charming goofiness to that role. That or End of Days with Schwarzenegger but the latter wasn't too much of a role really.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Maybe. They were kind of from the same mold physically, Steiger a bit less physically intimidating but neither classically handsome, both with curly hair that had been falling out for a while. If Hackman had wanted to see a guy of his "type" succeeding then Steiger is kind of the best guy that comes to mind.

Hackman and Hoffman were friends from before they were successful, so those guys back in those days had lots of peers to influence each other, like Pacino and Cazale, etc.

Steiger wasn't much older than Hackman but had been successful for quite a bit longer and he was one of the early Brando era method actors. There's no way Hackman wouldn't have seen him on On the Waterfront and The Pawnbroker etc.

Thanks for your insight, that makes sense.

 

[BisexualMMA]

Thanks for your insight, that makes sense.

No problem. You've been bringing some good movie and music talk. It was you that liked U2 / Ultraviolet right?

 

[Fedorgasm]

Gene Hackman got better with age, and quit before making a mockery of his career. And also kept his politics to himself.

Deniro did none of those things.

 

[StewDogg11]

Only one of these men was in No Way Out and Unforgiven.

 

[Texan6533]

Earlier in their careers De Niro, later rounds have to go to Hackman

 

[HUGHPHUG]

Longevity says Gene Hackman, but De Niro's best is arguably the greatest acting ever

So I didn't vote

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Hackman was more consistent but Deniro definitely has the more prolific and heralded roles under his belt.

Hackman simply doesnt have a GF2, Taxi Driver or Raging Bull type roll in his arsenal. Deniro on the other hand had a stream of meh/crap roles in the mid to latter part of his career. Hackman if anything got better with age.

 

[HHJ]

Hackman was more consistent but Deniro definitely has the more prolific and heralded roles under his belt.

Hackman simply doesnt have a GF2, Taxi Driver or Raging Bull type roll in his arsenal. Deniro on the other hand had a stream of meh/crap roles in the mid to latter part of his career. Hackman if anything got better with age.

I think Deniro gave his all in the 70s and 80s and coasted by more often than not after that.

But what he DID do was so incredible, and what came after cant diminish it.

 

[HHJ]

Longevity says Gene Hackman, but De Niro's best is arguably the greatest acting ever

So I didn't vote

Yeah, fuck it, dont need to vote.

Love both of them.

 

[FyrFytr998]

Hackman.

 

[ricc505]

I like Hackman better then Bobby 2 times. Di Niro might have better/more entertaining movies but Hackman showed a more natural skill. Rip Mr. Hackman

 

[jeff7b9]

I hate DeNiro as a person. Yes, particularly in his earlier work, he did some exceptional acting but I can't stand famous people who think their opinion matters because they are famous. Sorry guy, but you know NOTHING about the real world or real people.

Deniro has terrible "main character syndrome" in his off screen behavior that I find highly off putting. As Ricky Gervais said, "take your little trophy thank your agent and fuck off, don't stand on your little soapbox and preach your politics at everyone."

I can respect Hackman and choosing to live a private life outside the spotlight.

I also enjoy the way Gene Hackman chooses his roles. They always fit very well and as a result his performances were consistently very natural. He was a master of his craft and truly had the nuance dialed in, his timing, his tone, facial expressions, just a consummate professional.

 

[Streeter]

Hackman more versatile but Denerio was great at what he did .