Daniel Day-Lewis vs. Robert De Niro

Not the easiest comparison, especially since DDL appears in films less often than De Niro, but who in your opinion is the superior actor? DDL or prime De Niro?

 

De Niro without question.

 

Bobby for sure.

 

De Niro has always struck me as heavily over-rated, which is not to belittle the man as an actor, but I've never watched him & forgotten I'm watching Robert De Niro. That's disappointing for someone some have even gone to such lengths as to laughably label the greatest actor of all-time. Lewis can make you forget you're watching Lewis & think you're watching the character. De Niro is struggling for the same capacity.

 

I started to think like that but it's a by product of how famous he is. He's done a variety of roles from Heat to Meet the Parents.

Daniel Day Lewis appears nearly once a decade, THAT is why you forget what roles he is in(he's a very good actor though). I used to wonder about that strategy but it's a brilliant one.

 

DDL for me.

 

Wow! I've always had the exact opposite take on DeNiro - he had amazing screen presence in his day, whereas he has virtually no personality once the cameras stop rolling. In his prime, he was nearly unmatched in his ability to get lost in a character.

He's my ATF actor, but I agree with Godfather that DDL has done plenty to narrow the gap and with the chance to surpass him when all is said and done.

 

I think a lot of people have forgotten DeNiro's early career.

His resume from 1973's "Bang The Drum Slowly" to 1995's "Heat" is astounding. He also had plenty of characters you don't identify him as Robert DeNiro (the stereotypical gangster DeNiro, everybody thinks of).
The Mission
Taxi Driver (yes, it's iconic......but it's not typical DeNiro)
King of Comedy
Raging Bull
The Deer Hunter
Jacknife
Bang The Drum Slowly
Cape Fear
etc..

It's not fair to compare either actor however. They both tended towards method acting in their best days. DeNiro loved the process though........DDL seems pained by it, and why he rarely ever appears onscreen.

DeNiro is obviously past it now, and not shy about collecting paychecks, while DDL is allergic to getting paid. DeNiro probably made more money with the last shitty Fockers movie then DDL has made his entire career.

Not a knock, but his resume is scarily thin for a 54 year-old actor many people (myself included), consider one of the greatest of all-time.

On his best day............I don't think anybody is better then Daniel Day Lewis, but like one of my favorite directors, Terrence Malick, he barely ever works.

Once every 2-5 years...........and if he has a throwaway like his last piece of crap "Nine", and doesn't have anything else on the docket until 2013 (eight years after "There Will Be Blood", if it's done on schedule), it really will make people forget about him until he pulls his head out of the sand again.

 

DDL is the man, but RDN is the best ever.

 

I think The Fan is underrated.

 

Great post. I had no idea that Daniel Day-Lewis was so old (54 years). I figured him to be in his early to mid 40s.