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Round 10: "Heat" vs. "Heat" (1995)

Finally! After teasing us by casting the Dream Team together for the first time since "The Godfather: Part II," Michael Mann's epic tale of a career criminal and the dogged cop out to nab him at long last lets the legends share a scene. And ... moreit's a doozy: Bonding over a cup of coffee in a diner, Pacino and De Niro talk about the importance of professionalism, the fact that they're flip sides of the same coin and, ultimately, that neither plans on backing down when push comes to shove. If you think these two can channel intensity on their own, just watch what happens when they're in the same room: The tough-guy meter goes way into the red. Despite Pacino's and De Niro's tendency to occasionally slip into old habits -- the former's yelling jags, the latter's repetitively terse line readings -- this 10-minute sequence proves they can still bring the heat (ouch!) when it counts. It also proves that, when these guys are face to face, they're ultimately an even match.

Winner: A split decision. We're giving both of them the belt.

(Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection)

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David Fear is a film critic for Time Out New York. He's also written for the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Filter and MovieMaker magazine.