Heat

Heat is three hours full of genre joy. It may seem a bit dated now, and the original Michael Mann script is from 1979 and the events that inspired it are of course even older. The first endeavor was supposed to be a series, which remained at the pilot - L.A. Takedown. Nevertheless, even with that 90s look, it is still a first-class acting showcase by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. There are solid performances even in the supporting roles, especially Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd and the young Natalie Portman. Heat has several peaks, the opulent shootout comes after two hours as the climax of the first act, surprisingly fitting into the second act is also a very well-written romance and a family drama of epic proportions. A surprisingly solid experience. (31/03/2024)

I love this. A famously created script that does not divide good and evil. The antipodes have the greatest understanding for each other, and the viewer does not necessarily take a stand based on morality and incompatible principles. Two demonic outcasts, completely committed to their mission. Coincidentally, they are aiming weapons at each other. Mann carries the film with his precise directing, which has an incredibly captivating pace and timing of dramatic climaxes. The final scene is minimalist, brilliant. A precisely tuned soundtrack. Perfect cast in every detail and the appropriate acting performances. Everything works: the action, the psychology, and the plot. If you want a good crime drama, this is it. (26/08/2008)

As much as I didn't think Michael Mann was that great in Miami Vice and Collateral, I liked him 100% from the start, and although I was very skeptical about the three-hour running time, after a few minutes I knew it would be good. It's hard to pick just one aspect of the film, because Heat scores in almost all of them. The characters are fleshed out, we learn a lot about their families and overall backstory, so we as viewers get a decent foundation around which to build our emotions throughout and actually understand everyone involved and their motivations, both from the detectives and the robbers. Not to mention, all this filmmaking around the individual characters is pretty meaningful scenes and fills the runtime decently instead of the boring filler that is seen in today's output. In terms of acting, the film is uncompromising. Robert De Niro is excellent, Al Pacino fits the role of the detective beautifully, and Val Kilmer is my new favorite because he's an actor with a unique look, facial expressions, and charisma. The film oozes authenticity, the characters are written and acted excellently, we understand all their motivations and thoughts, and the action is decent too, which hints at the only problem I had with the film. I found the last hour to be a bit of a "finisher" that skimps on action and suspense, but rather just tries to draw out the climax of the relationship between the main characters and create a final impression, which is a shame because if they had gone one better with more action, a bigger shootout or a robbery, I would have had nothing to object to. All in all, though, this is a very good film that had no competition in the genre even then, and I think it would be pretty hard to find even today – Mann just showed that this is what he's good at, and Heat is a full-on action entertainer that doesn't fall short on any level. (13/08/2021)

An unassuming action crime film that delves into the psyche of the characters down to the smallest detail, giving strong meaning to even the smallest scene and allowing the tension to build to unbelievable levels. And who do you root for? With a persistent shiver down my spine, perhaps both of them. The moment when Neil sees Vincent approaching on the sidewalk is a bombshell that had me trembling with anticipation throughout the second half. Heat is the first open victory of Michael Mann's civilian form and enduring sense of immediate interaction with the plot. I gotta hold on to my angst. I preserve it because I need it. It keeps me sharp, on the edge, where I gotta be. (07/02/2006)

A film that redefined the genre of modern detective stories. A film that pitted actors considered among the greatest in the history of cinema against each other. A film that etched itself into history with the most realistically portrayed shootout (one that will never be erased). Indeed, Heat excelled in many ways. As a fan of crime films, I regret that today’s filmmakers don’t devote the same passion to similar genre pieces as they did in the past. If Heat were made, say, 20 years later, I believe it would have been trimmed by about an hour and the creators would have tried to amplify everything. However, it’s the gradually building pace with excellently written dialogue scenes that captivated me in Heat. Overall, the film doesn’t rush, which artistically elevates it even more. Michael Mann is a professional in every respect; few filmmakers can retell a seemingly linear story as masterfully as he does. His camera cuts and precise direction give the film an air of craft perfection. Add to that the divine cast (in crime films, no villain has ever matched the quality of the protagonist; Robert De Niro's character is unmatched in charisma). And the action is top-notch, with the shootout being the cherry on top. It's a pity I couldn’t experience that loud sequence in a movie theater, as it must have been quite the event. And the ending, where the audience sees how the two central characters respected each other, is an experience that won’t be repeated. A masterpiece. I give it 93%. (24/08/2020)