Heat

John Chard 5/16/2024 3:22:08PM 8.4

You don't live with me, you live among the remains of dead people. Heat is written and directed by Michael Mann. It stars Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Ashley Judd, Amy Brennerman and Danny Trejo. Music is scored by Elliot Goldenthal and cinematography by Dante Spinoti. Big time thief Neil McCauley (DeNiro) is after one last major score before he retires, but hot on his tail is Vincent Hannah (Pacino), a cop equally and methodically as driven as he is himself. In the build up to Heat's release, much was made of it being the first on screen pairing of DeNiro and Pacino. A mouthwatering prospect for sure, it proved to be worth the wait and unfolds as a lesson in restrained acting with two modern greats affording each other the respect that was due. What we didn't realise in the build up to the film's release, was that it would prove to be one of the greatest cops and robbers movies of all time, brought to us by an auteur director whose kink for realism and commitment to research stands him out from much of the modern directing pack. Rarely does a film come together as one, where all the cogs of the engine are in tune, but Heat is one such picture. From cast performances to visual aesthetics, to screenplay and actual substance of story, Heat is as meticulous as it is thrilling. There are a myriad of characters brilliantly stitched together in one de-glamorised City of Angels, as plot develops, and each character and their crumbling relationships come under inspection, we are witnessing a coarse viewpoint of human nature, where people's lives are ended or defined by their choices. Everywhere you look, here, there are folk cracking under the strain of being exposed to high end crime, dreams, hopes and happiness are unlikely to be achieved, and this is on both sides of the law. For Heat, Mann fuses the tonal and visual ticks of Manhunter with that of the adrenalin rushes from Last of the Mohicans, with the former gorgeously born out by Spinoti's pin sharp photography, the latter thrillingly realised by Mann's skill at action set pieces. Once again word of mouth about the key heist and shoot out in the film led to high expectation, and again there is no disappointment. L.A. becomes a battle ground, rapid gunfire punctures the air, cars swerve and crash, bodies fall, visually and aurally it drags you to the edge of your seat, an extended action sequence fit to sit with the best of them. The kicker as well is that because Mann has been so detailed in his characterisations, we care about what happens to all parties, we understand motives and means. Which in a film with such a huge support cast is quite an achievement. There is enough in Heat to fill out a dozen other cops and robbers films, fans of neo-noir and crime films in general are spoilt supreme here. It's not rocket science really, put a group of great actors together, give them an intelligent script to work from and let them be guided by a director who will not sit still, and you get a great film. Heat, the ultimate predator and prey movie, where from beginning to end it refuses to be lazy or cop out, and energy and thought seeps from every frame. 10/10

JackthePGL 8/29/2025 10:10:25PM 8.4

Heat is known to be one of Michael Mann's masterpiece and in doing a re-review just like I was thinking of some of my older ones I'm going to be redoing just to make them long which is so special to me and all of you guys. Starring a huge amount of cast such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer and many more, this is going to be one hell of a ride. Neil McCauley played by Robert De Niro, is a professional thief and he and his crew, Chris Shiherlis, Michael Cheritto, Gilbert Trejo, Waingro who is newly hired, are both set out to rob a million dollars in bearer bonds from an armored car. During the heist, Waingro kills a guard without provocation, forcing the crew to eliminate the other two guards. McCauley prepares to kill Waingro in retaliation for the deaths of the guards, but he escapes. Vincent Hanna played by Al Pacino, and his team investigate the robbery. He has a wife, Justine who he and her had a strained relationship and he struggles to connect with his stepdaughter, Lauren played by Natalie Portman. McCauley however begins a relationship as well with Eady who is a graphic designer. So now the two are going to battle each other to the very end while stop at nothing. I remember seeing Heat at a young age at the right one and in later years back in 2016 since I got an IMDB account and looking at the Top 250 Movies of all time I got pumped. I didn't realise how good the film really is along with the others at that time such as Casino, Se7en, The Thing, The Usual Suspects, L.A. Confidential, American History X and the Alien films. Now I thought I was going to do so by watching it multiple times which I did and it never disappoint. This is what makes a movie so special. It's so impeccable. Seeing Al Pacino and Robert De Niro together in one movie is so mind-blowing. Seeing both two fantastic actors in one movie together is what makes them a duo. I think you'll remember seeing them so young in The Godfather Part II but they never share a scene together but now you see them in here now and next time you'll seeing them again in Righteous Kill and Martin Scorsese's The Irishman. Seeing them for the first time ever in one scene is in the diner scene is what makes the movie so special and you'll know they're bestest best friends for life BTS. Al Pacino is having a blast in this film. His lines is what makes it so memorable, it's crazy. "I'm angry. I'm very angry, Ralph. You know, you can ball my wife if she wants you to. You can lounge around here on her sofa, in her ex-husband's dead-tech, post-modernistic bulls**t house if you want to. But you do not get to watch my f**king television set!" "Why'd I get mixed up with that b***h?" "Cause she's got a GREAT ASS... and you got your head ALL THE WAY UP IT! Ferocious, aren't I? When I think of asses, a woman's ass, something comes out of me." The film however does provides one of the best action scenes in film history even years ago in one morning I'm being told to turn the volume down 'cause they're in bed. Of course I said years ago that the ending chase is thrilling and it sort've reminds me of me staying outside in the dark. Oh, those days. I have no problems with this film, it's so memorable and it's definitely my favorite of the few so here's that. I love everything about this movie, the action scenes, the pacing, the moments of silence even towards the end, just everything no doubt. I love Heat and I love both of these leading actors. Since I have no problem that this is nearly three hours long, I can watch it in one day without a fail like with Casino, Scarface, The Godfather Part I & II, Dances with Wolves, The Wolf of Wall Street and of course, Lawrence of Arabia. This is definitely one of Michael Mann's best films of all time.

tensharpe 2/3/2023 11:57:52AM 8.4

“Heat” directed by Michael Mann is a crime epic based on the exploits of real life criminal Neil McCauley.  Although mostly fictional, with the events and character having real life basis, Mann is able to elevate this crime drama above other films in a similar genre.  Robert De Niro plays Neil McCauley, a knowledgable experienced criminal who’s skill set includes playing cat and mouse with the police. After a robbery ends in a street gunfight McCauley and his gang manage to evade the police. Lieutenant Vincent Hanna ( Al Pacino ) determined to catch the criminals, skilfully assesses the crime scene and immediately “ Heat” begins to draw parallels between the two lead characters.  Filmed entirely on location “Heat” is a gripping, tension filled viewing experience that has the viewer uncertain who to route for throughout the entire proceedings.