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Heat (1995)

Director: Michael Mann

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From Time Out Film Guide

Investigating a bold armed robbery which has left three security guards dead, LA cop Vincent Hanna (Pacino), whose devotion to work is threatening his third marriage, follows a trail that leads him to suspect a gang of thieves headed by Neil McCauley (De Niro). Trouble is, McCauley's cunning is at least equal to Hanna's, and that makes him a hard man to nail. Still, unknown to Hanna, McCauley's gang have their own troubles: one of their number is a volatile psychopath, while the businessman whose bonds they've stolen is not above some rough stuff himself. Such a synopsis barely scratches the surface of Mann's masterly crime epic. Painstakingly detailed, with enough characters, subplots and telling nuances to fill out half a dozen conventional thrillers, this is simply the best American crime movie - and indeed, one of the finest movies, period - in over a decade. The action scenes are better than anything produced by John Woo or Quentin Tarantino; the characterisation has a depth most American film-makers only dream of; the use of location, decor and music is inspired; Dante Spinotti's camerawork is superb; and the large, imaginatively chosen cast gives terrific support to the two leads, both back on glorious form.

Author: GA 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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John Anthony said...

Posted on Jan 16 2008 14:07 HEAT
Director – Michael Mann, 1995, US
Starring – Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Amy Brenneman, Wes Studi, Dennis Haysbert, Tom Sizemore, Mykelti Wiliamson, Natalie Portman.
Based on a previous endeavour, neatly titled “LA Takedown” this earlier version provided Mann with the blueprint for what was later to become one of the greatest heist films of all time! Following an almost exact replica of the previous script, Mann turned his 95min action film into almost a three hour film thesis on the cops and robbers genre, only this time on a much bigger budget with a cast deserving of Mann’s direction.
The plot is simple, two ruthless professionals – one an obsessive cop, Vincent Hanna (played by Pacino), who’s life is starting to crumble around him, the other a master thief, Neil McCauley (played by De Niro), who’s only family is his crew. Both share the same code of honour, but will stop at nothing to reach their objectives. The result is astonishing, a complex and gripping thriller that surpasses all expectations, and plunges deep into the realm of cinema masterpiece!
Dante Spinotti’s cinematography is breathtaking; scenes are often filmed with a subtle naturalness, uncomplicated to an extent, which allows Mann to capitalising on the unique selling points and acting ability of the individual characters – such as the coffee shop scene where criminal and cop meet face to face.
Scenes are often accompanied by vast empty backgrounds shaping the ever present baron LA landscape. These aspects of the film, coupled with a truly outstanding cast and backing soundtrack, have enabled Mann to reinvent the wheel when it comes to this particular film genre, but this is not a film you can categorise, it serves as a case study and outstanding example of filmmaking at its very best.
Film Facts!
The scene where a bank heist goes wrong was given an extra degree of realism and direction by Andy McNab (former SAS soldier). It was hailed by USA Today as “the greatest action scene of recent times” and is now used as a training aid for soldiers.
Both actors who played the role of Red Dragon in Mann’s earlier work “Manhunter” and in “The Silence Of The Lambs” star in HEAT – one as a forensics cop, the other as a wheelchair bound criminal consultant.
HEAT is still the only film to date to have been graced with the presence of two of the greatest actors of all-time (Pacino and De Niro). The Godfather II comes in at a close second with De Niro taking the role of a younger Don Corleone.
In the earlier version of the film (LA Takedown) Al Pacino and Robert De Niro’s characters where played by virtual unknowns – Scott Plank and Michael Rocker – the film flopped and it was later removed from video shelves to make room for HEAT.
Film Recommendations: The Jericho Mile, Manhunter, The Keep, The Last of The Mohicans, Thief (AKA Violent Streets), Ali, Collateral, Miami Vice.

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