NYPD Blues

Thirteen years ago, the great Al Pacino and Robert De Niro worked together for the first time in Heat. Although the two shared few scenes together, I know there’s not a movie fan on the face of the planet who cannot remember their final, crackling confrontation.

Last Friday, De Niro and Pacino teamed up again, this time in the not-so-thrilling serious buddy cop movie Righteous Kill.

The movie, which I caught in New York City at a theater that was not showing Burn After Reading or The Women, came out with little to no fanfare, and there’s a good reason for that: it ain’t no Heat.

It isn’t fair or polite to compare, but Righteous Kill was a bore, a subpar suspense in which the actors play New York detectives well in the twilight of their careers who are hot on the trail of a serial killer.

Oh, here’s Dexter-like kicker: De Niro’s character may or may not be that killer. (Too bad this clunker’s nowhere near as clever as the Showtime show.)

I’ll make you a deal: If you don’t make me tell you about an unnecessary subplot involving a coke-loving lawyer-turned-informant, a thuggish dealer played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, or the surprise twist ending (ha!) I’ll tell you what Righteous Kill’s best asset was.

Deal?

It was co-star Carla Cugino, as De Niro’s likes-it-rough booty call/fellow officer. She’s a sight for sore eyes.

My Rating *1/2

Photo: Overture Films.