News Bites: De Niro and Pacino's Sister Act

Posted by Petes1234567 474 days ago

Playing cops in the new movie 'Righteous Kill' must have been a real drag for Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. While promoting the film in England, the legendary actors – who have only appeared onscreen together in one other film, the 1995 thriller 'Heat' – brainstormed their next collaboration: a cross-dressing comedy. According to Showbiz Spy, Pacino marveled at his pal's ability to do funny films, and De Niro suggested they try one out. "We could play sisters. That could happen... who knows?" the 'Meet the Parents' star joked.

Perhaps De Niro is on to something. After all, their careers are in a rut, so this would certainly be different. Plus, there's a long history of Oscar love for drag roles. After winning an Academy Award for his searing performance in 'Kramer Vs. Kramer,' Dustin Hoffman took three years off before returning as 'Tootsie,' a comic turn that snagged him another nomination. Hilary Swank took home a statuette and became a star for her work in 'Boys Don't Cry.' And an unknown Jaye Davidson wowed voters into giving him a nod with his gender-bending turn in 'The Crying Game.'

Then again, sometimes drag is just, well, a drag. Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes were pretty scary ladies in 'To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar' and the usually infallible Phillip Seymour Hoffman was a mess in 'Flawless' (which co-starred De Niro). If Pacino and De Niro do decide to don heels and gowns, they better realize that it takes more than pretty clothes to make the man ... er, the woman.