Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman on Letterman archived

Maybe I didn't get it, but I disagree completely. It seemed like a complete butt-kissing fest. Dave just read off the names of all their movies and waited for the crowd to applaud. OOOh Tootsie, how about that one?

I needed toothpicks to keep my eyes open. It was a borefest.

I thought DeNiro and Hoffman were behaving very strangely (maybe deliberately) and that Letterman was distasteful (as usual). The appearance served as a reminder that even great actors depend on good writing. All the variety and passion Hoffman and DeNiro display on screen stems not just from their own talents but from someone's pen/typewriter/computer. Whether they meant to be supercool or sophisticated the other night I can't tell, but I thought they were a very awkward blend of rude and silly; perhaps they were force to do a publicity appearance and behaved accordingly, or perhaps they just are better when they are performing scripted works.

Dustin Hoffman is generally a good interview, witness his appearance on "The Howard Stern Show" about a year ago; it was extremely enjoyable.

DeNiro on the other hand has a great sense of humor, but I really think he is a very shy person.

That characteristic is not unusual for stage and screen personalities.

us2inFL is correct. DeNiro just doesn't talk -- he's famous for that. He is shy, he doesn't have much to say as far as inane chit-chat is concerned -- he just does not want to talk about himself. And yet the publicity departments of the movie studios insist on making him appear on talk shows to publicize his movies. So that's what you get. Hoffman, on the other hand, is much more talkative and a better talk-show guest. But I fault Letterman's interview style -- it sounded like a friggin' eulogy. You don't draw people out by embarrassing them (how many real actors do you hear will not even watch themselves on stage or screen -- never mind blah blah blah about themselves). Shouting out the name of a movie and then expecting your guest to start talking is ridiculous -- I wouldn't answer him either! I thought it was an embarrassment for all.

It was hysterical.

DeNiro is notorious for being horrible in interviews. He was Jimmy Fallon's first guest and he was basically a joyless prick the whole time. I am surprised that he still gets booked.

Posted By: sbenoisIt was hysterical.

The only good comment on this thread :wink:

Always have a dog to cut away to.

Bob was terrible on SNL a few weeks ago...

When De Niro is talking craft, he does quite well.

I was excited to hear Bob is working on another movie with Marty and Joe.

Also, at one time - I heard they were toying with the idea of a movie answering the question, "where is Travis Bickle now".

Last night I watched the film about John Cazale that someone recommended here somewhere. "I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale." It plays like a PBS special. Not great, but if you like this group of actors, they're all in it.

That was a great documentary, especially some of the back stories, such as when the producers of The Deer Hunter didn't want to hire Cazale because he was ill and "uninsurable," and DeNiro allegedly put up the money to make that happen.

At a time when so many people seem to be talking over each other on television, I find DeNiro's laid back style kind of comforting, amusing and real ... though sure, I wouldn't want to watch him on an interview every night.

Hysterical clip. Both of them have had some work done on their faces, but don't look like a clay mask the way Burt Reynolds and Kenny Rogers do, so props to them.

Yes, have to say as he ages, DeNiro (with his squinty eyes and longer hair) looks more like a combination of Harvey Keitel and Mr. Magoo. In a good way!