Heat

Heat (1995)
Directed by Michael Mann
****

It seems ridiculous to call this a cops & robbers tale, but at heart, that's what this beautiful, exhilarating masterpiece is. It's also one of the many reasons that 1995 was such a great year for film. It's also a landmark of a special kind to have Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in the same story. De Niro's tough guy leads a sharp heist squad, and relies on the motto that he should never make any attachments he can't get out of in 30 seconds flat if he feels the heat around the corner. Al Pacino's investigator is just as tireless, and it's just a matter of time until this gorgeously-filmed, atmospheric, well-scripted tale puts them face to face. I'm sure Michael Mann would take it as a great compliment that his film hasn't become dated in the slightest.

Comments

[Will]

Well, by relative standards, I can't help but agree with that judgment, Dave. Heat's ending has a beautiful inevitability about it, a sort of drain-circling speed-up, a one-two punch. OK, I'll stop now.

I still wouldn't say the finale to 3:10 to Yuma was weak. Heat's is stronger.

Yes, gritty. But I love how Mann's films reveal how interesting every character is. There's a worldview statement going on there. Gritty, yes. Does something with the gritty that adds up to more than gritty, yes.

[David J. Lohnes]

Yes, I think this is a good one. It gets a bit strong in terms of some of the language for my comfort (especially as Holly and I watch everything together), and it's pretty gritty (which isn't necessarily bad) but what else can you expect? It certainly isn't as bad as the construction crew I worked with.

I thing the closing scene is powerful and by contrast shows just how weak the ending of 3:10 to Yuma was (noting the brief comparison between these two you made in your Yuma review).