De Niro, Pacino at the Premiere of ‘Righteous Kill’

Screen legends De Niro and Pacino were at New York’s Ziegfeld theater to promote their new film ‘Righteous Kill.’
De Niro, Pacino at the Premiere of ‘Righteous Kill’
Robert De Niro (L) and Al Pacino at the premiere of “Righteous Kill” on Wednesday, Sept. 10.” (Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images for Overture Films)
Cary Dunst
9/11/2008
Updated:
9/12/2008
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/righteous_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/righteous_medium-349x450.jpg" width="300" class="size-medium wp-image-63961"/></a>
NEW YORK—Screen legends Robert De Niro and Al Pacino were on hand at midtown New York’s famed Ziegfeld movie house the evening of Sept. 10 to promote their new film Righteous Kill.

The two star as gritty and jaded NYPD detectives nearing retirement who become frustrated by the inefficiencies of the judicial system. Their pledge to uphold the law gives way to their moral desire for vigilante justice in this dramatic thriller.

The film also touts a strong supporting cast—including John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg as partners who suspect foul play from the veteran detectives played by De Niro and Pacino, Brian Dennehy as the ranking officer, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as a club owner/drug lord. The testosterone is slightly offset by the charming yet equally brassy Carla Gugino who plays the department’s forensics expert and De Niro’s love interest.

Dressed in a sports coat and ball cap, director John Avnet introduced De Niro and Pacino as the greatest actors of their generation. As the famed pair stood up from their seats to take a bow, the more subdued De Niro waved as if slightly uncomfortable with the attention, while the more theatrical Pacino turned 360 degrees, smiled, and waved.

Avnet closed his remarks by recognizing the supporting cast, the NYPD and the NYFD in attendance, and by describing the film’s overarching theme as “friendship.”

Avnet and Pacino’s collaboration earlier this summer, the thriller 88 Minutes was by most standards a box office disappointment. There are high expectations for Righteous Kill, which is opening today nationwide.