The Godfather

Round 5: "Scent of a Woman" (1992) vs. "Awakenings" (1990)

There's an unwritten law that says every actor must play a disabled person -- physically or mentally -- at least once. De Niro, naturally, did something close to both at the same time: The actor transformed his body ... more(his character was a catatonic who also suffered from Parkinson's disease) and, because he's been "asleep" for years, reacts to every environment as a child would. Pacino's motor-mouthed military man is "just" blind, though we're convinced he was also afflicted with a Tourette's-like tendency to yell everything he says. His scenery-chewing resulted in an Oscar, albeit a compensatory one for Pacino not winning for "The Godfather" (or "Dog Day Afternoon," or ...). De Niro's physicality is the most impressive thing in Penny Marshall's sap-fest, though the performance is just as tic-ridden and showy as Pacino's sightless mentor in the "Scent"-ed sea of cheese. But, because the latter took home the gold for his troubles, the judges determined that the round goes to Mr. "Hoo-ah!" by merits alone. Still, whoever wins, we all lose.

Winner: Pacino, by this much

(Columbia / Courtesy Everett Collection)