Dustin Hoffman : Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Dustin Hoffman or Robert De Niro?

I will definitely go with Hoffman because of his range. De Niro usually played a tough guy, but Hoffman played EVERYTHING, and did amazing at EVERYTHING.

I had goose bumps to the point of leprosy during The Graduate - still probably my favorite of all time.

Oh, and he was so damn good in Tootsie too, and Rain man.

Pretty much every movie!

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Fun fact: It was Robert Redford who was originally to play the role of Benjamin Braddock in the Graduate but then due to his good looks he lost out on the part because no one would believe he'd be someone who "couldn't get the girl."

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

True! In fact, in the novel it's based on, Benjamin is tall and blonde and something of an athlete.


My ratings: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur0239581/ratings

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Hoffman. He has way more range than De Niro ever did and ever will.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

yeah and it amazing to think this bc de niro has so much range its amazing. but hoffman has more range it's a fact.

i'd like to see de niro play a middle aged woman as well as hoffman. hoffman gets more in character than de niro is capable of and has more charisma and screen presence than de niro. someone on here made a good point, hoffman has more warmth than de niro and that is a key fact that makes hoffman better than de niro at acting.

lukejbarnett

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

De Niro

His performances in Taxi Driver and Raging Bull are hands down two of the greatest in movie history.

Not to mention other top contenders like The Deer Hunter, Once Upon a Time in America, Goodfellas and Cape Fear.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

but joe pesci is more impressive in raging bull and i'd never say that joe pesci is a better actor than de niro so that tells me de niro was not as impressive as he could have been in raging bull.

whereas hoffman never is lacking in being impressive in a movie

lukejbarnett

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

"De Niro usually played a tough guy, but Hoffman played EVERYTHING".

Everything except the tough guy, that is - even in Straw Dogs and Marathon Man, where he finally gets into action successfully, he's more like an unexpectedly empowered nerd, a little awkward. Also, to say De Niro "usually played a tough guy" is quite severely limiting, considering these so-called "tough guys" come with all kinds of different personalities - sometimes he's introverted (Taxi Drive 2000 r), sometimes volatile (Mean Streets), sometimes an everyman rising to the occasion (The Deer Hunter)... sometimes he's smart (The Godfather Part 2), at other times shockingly stupid (Raging Bull).



"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?


Everything except the tough guy, that is - even in Straw Dogs and Marathon Man, where he finally gets into action successfully, he's more like an unexpectedly empowered nerd, a little awkward.

Maybe in Ulu Grosbard's Straight Time?
Granted, that would be the melancholy, horizon gazing, Michael Mann brand of tough guy. But tough nonetheless.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Probably; don't really recall if he had much ass to kick (well, there was this strange road incident with Emmett Walsh), but he certainly was one brazen little burglar (and, as with De Niro in Jackie Brown, the moustache seems to have gone a long way in defining his low level hood personality).



"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Yes... the only actor I can think of who managed to retain some sort of class while sporting that moustache was Jon Voight in Heat.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

"Also, to say De Niro "usually played a tough guy" is quite severely limiting, considering these so-called "tough guys" come with all kinds of different personalities"

Agree. I still think that Hoffman is a way better actor, this is true.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

you don't know about hoffman's career then. he's played tough guys in plenty of movies. like billy bathgate where he plays the most scary sociopath gangster i've ever seen in a movie.

lukejbarnett

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Hoffman.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Deniro is my #3 and Hoffman is my #4 (all-time).

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Impossible choice - they are such amazing actors. From the top of my head, De Niro in Deerhunter absolutely fantastic performance - Hoffman in Papillon just second to none in that role. The list goes on and on and both of them have outstanding careers!

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

De Niro !!

Travis Bickle is GOAT && Rupert Pupkin is Pitch-Perfect Comedic Performance.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Hoffman

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

I absolutely love both, they are both in my TOP5 hands down.

But, I will go with Hoffman. He's WAY more versatile.

"You're a disease, and I'm the cure!" - Marion "Cobra" Cobretti

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Hoffman. DeNiro lacks warmth in his roles. Hoffman comes off more likable, versatile and charismatic.

Hoffman was also the actor of the 1960s that the older generation liked as well. He was respected by Laurence Olivier, Fredric March, Victor Mature, Cary Grant and Mickey Rooney. Hell, even John Wayne loathed MIDNIGHT COWBOY and still felt Hoffman was great in the role.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

was spencer tracy a fan of hoffman in the '60s or '70s? was peter o'toole, marlon brando a fan of hoffman in the '60s or '70s?

lukejbarnett

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

I dunno but Brando and DeNiro exchanged some dialog in the heist movie called The Score.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

someone on here made a good point which was hoffman has warmth and de niro doesn't also hoffman has more charisma and screen presence than de niro.

i'd like to see de niro play tootie as well as hoffman well that would never happen bc he has never been able to and never will.

lukejbarnett

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Dustin Hoffman by a landslide. Bobby pretty much stays playing the bad guy whereas Dustin has worked all characters and genres mostly. No horror though.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

I prefer Dustin DeNiro.
That dude is awesome!

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

the diversity and the ways hoffman can transform, be a chameleon in roles is what makes him better than de niro. also he's just a better actor than de niro. i've never been as mesmerized by an actor acting than hoffman acting.

he has this charisma and magnetism this undefined element that is captivating in a way it's never seen from any other actor.

yes glad you agree with me about hoffman's range. hoffman goes deeper in his preparation and role bringing. de niro is always believable and credible but hoffman goes deeper into his character and brings them to life even more than de niro does.

man what hoffman does in tootsie, billy bathgate, and straight time is beyond amazing.

well what movie has hoffman ever been just good?

lukejbarnett

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Hoffman.

He gets more invested in his roles. De Niro has a few gems, otherwise he is just too much De Niro and obnoxious.

Best roles for me by De Niro are Taxi Driver and The Deer Hunter. He doesn't even seem like De Niro in TDH.

Norman! What did you put in my tea?

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

I'm going with Dustin Hoffman because he isn't in as many crappy paycheck movies as De Niro. Moreover, De Niro could have never done Tootsie because he doesn't have the warmth and range that Hoffman has.

Yes, this is really me.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Robert De Niro

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Hoffman and he did have much more range and took on some unusual roles.

DeNiro basically seemed to be playing the same kind of character and I have never been a fan.

Re: Who is the better actor? Hoffman or De Niro?

Hoffman easily.

Not only is Hoffman more versatile, but he has a likable screen presence that De Niro lacks. De Niro has a coldness and aloofness to him that I find off-putting.
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