However, although the results are still good enough to satisfy the average fan of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, the running time is a mighty weight for the film to carry on its shoulders and, in between heavy bursts of savage action, its pace is sometimes ponderous.

Pacino is the cop, De Niro the criminal, each dedicated to his own profession, each doomed to a life of loneliness and self-denial.

Each is a gladiatorial predator, and there isn't room in the same arena for both of them.

The story concentrates heavily on these two and it's De Niro who comes across as marginally the more sympathetic and three-dimensional.

The plot structure has (doubtless intended) echoes of Greek tragedy, but many of its action scenes are needlessly protracted.

Worth seeing, though, for its best scenes, one of which has De Niro and Pacino discussing their not dissimilar philosophies over a cup of coffee.

See if you can spot a 14-year-old Natalie Portman as Lauren.