Film of the Week #49 - Heat

Karl Hungus

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113277/

This is probably Michael Mann's undisputed masterpiece, and it's got one of the best casts you could ever want to see in a movie.

I think this was actually one of the first films I bought on DVD (Along with Ronin), so it's a kind of special film for me in that respect. It's been a while since I've seen it, but a great film none the less.

Discuss.

senordingdong

Absoloutly love this film, and I can't believe you mentioned Ronin along with it. Another classic.
The character chemistry is amazing and it was this movie that first brought to my attention DeNiro and Pachino's bizzare acting relationship.

The end stand off is so superb and Val Kimer, and Natalie Portmans big break...I can't say enough good things about this movie.

Wacker

I stick this one on every couple of months. It has only been a few weeks since I last watched it. It is awesome on so many levels.

As Karl said, few modern films have better casts. De Niro has rarely been better (and he hasn't been nearly as impressive since), and Pacino was excellent in parts. Not when screaming "'Cause she's got a GREAT ASS!" though. That's just annoying.
The others are great too. My favourite line in the movie is from Michael Cherrito (Sizemore), when he says "Well for me, the action is the juice." It turned a regular henchman type into a brilliant character who was really riding the highway to hell.

The action scenes fantastic and realistic. Note how quickly Chris (Val Kilmer) fires his M-16, turns and fires at guys behind him, reloads and fires again in one take? The SAS guy who was a technical consutant on the set said that he couldn't have done it any quicker himself. The whole robbery scene is just awesome; the guys reduce the huge police road-block to scrap and a few cops who dare not lift their heads. It goes to show the difference between automatic weapons and 9MMs.

The only problem is the pacing. The end drags. Am I about to be lynched? I'll remind the angry mob that it was me who nominated it this week, so go easy! It does though, admit it!

BaZmO*

senordingdong wrote: »

and it was this movie that first brought to my attention DeNiro and Pachino's bizzare acting relationship.

That's probably because it was the first time that they both appeared together in the same movie. And by that I mean share the same screen.
They both appeared in the Godfather II but never in the same scene as they were portraying characters from different times in history.

Apparently they are to appear again in the same film for the second time only in Righteous Kill

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6668757.stm


As for Heat, I never really warmed to the film myself. (groan) The acting was great but the story never appealed. Wasn't it a remake of a TV Movie? LA Takedown?

Dont be at yourself

For me, Heat is a very good police thriller that is made immesurably better by its cast. The shoot-out is also one of the best ever commited to celluloid.

I remember reading rumours at the time that De Niro and Pachino filmed the face-to-face scene seperately, and it was digitally stitched together. Obviously that's a load of old hat, but it illustrates just how big a cinematic moment it was!

Chad ghostal

BaZmO* wrote: »

Wasn't it a remake of a TV Movie? LA Takedown?

twas: http://imdb.com/title/tt0097700/

It's obviously not as good as heat, but is very good for a tv movie (imo)
It's extremely similar to heat (manns practice run with a lot less money), it even includes almost all the same scenes/gun battles (except with smaller guns).

As for heat, i've loved it since I saw it many Christmases ago. It's flawed and it's ending is probably nicked from bullitt, but I love the epic feel to it and the detail of the story. I like the ending and don't really think it's drawn out, it still holds my attention after a good few viewings.

Sad Professor

Wacker wrote: »

The only problem is the pacing.

Actually the pacing is one of things that really makes the film for me. It's very deliberate and specific and contributes greatly to the mood. It only seems slow if you think of the film as an action/thriller. Mann has always described Heat as a drama.

Anyway, it's an brilliant movie. Like a modern day western. Unlike a lot of directors who approach movies as a kind of filmed theatre, Mann really understands cinema. He can accomplish in single shot what other directors need 10 pages of dialogue to do.

Now if only WB would put together another dvd with a re-mastered transfer as apposed to that lazy-ass special edition they released two years ago.

faceman

top film. Apparantely on set, de niro avoided pacino socially until after they filmed the famous coffee shop scene.

Wacker

Sad Professor wrote: »

Actually the pacing is one of things that really makes the film for me. It's very deliberate and specific and contributes greatly to the mood. It only seems slow if you think of the film as an action/thriller. Mann has always described Heat as a drama.

I actually think the pacing is top notch up until the bank heist. After that, it does seem to come off the rails a little with too many loose ends being tied up. I see where you're coming from with viewing it as a drama instead of a thriller though; that will be my attitude when next I watch it.

The Bollox

when I finally got round to watching the whole film (I made two previous attempts which ended after about 20 mins) I was blown away. I thought the film was very well paced. the diner scene with Pacino and De Niro is my favourite part of the film

Wacker

I know it is only one film and thus it is a bad idea to judge careers based upon it, but I think De Niro is far more impressive in this film than Pacino. Some of that may have beed down to the character; Neil McAuley is that cool.

Creature

Great film. One of, if not the best thriller/dramas I've ever seen.

Mann + Pacino + DeNiro = Win.

senordingdong

BaZmO* wrote: »

That's probably because it was the first time that they both appeared together in the same movie. And by that I mean share the same screen.

Yes but I didn't see it when it came out.

el dude

Great film. Let dow big time by the ending though.

Wacker wrote: »

I know it is only one film and thus it is a bad idea to judge careers based upon it, but I think De Niro is far more impressive in this film than Pacino. Some of that may have beed down to the character; Neil McAuley is that cool.

Your spot on. Pacino is good, but he's just being Pacino. There was a lot more going on with de Niro in this one.

Savman

What a film.
/bows head


I also think it was the McAuley character that tied the whole thing together. He was ice cool. Probably DeNiro's best role in recent years too.

I have the DVD and nearly due my monthly Heat fix.

Declan A Walsh

Excellent film for many reasons. There is the direction of Michael Mann, who keeps the suspense and drama going throughout most of the film. I certainly don't feel it flags at any time, which is quite an achievement, for such a relatively slow-moving and long film. There is the wonderful dialogue. There is the fantastic performances (IMO) from Pacino and De Niro. I think there are a number of other individual great performances, notably Tom Sizemore as Michael and Kevin Gage as Wayne Grow.

Nope! I believe "Heat" is well-deserved of the accolade, regardless of what some might say.

big_show

Great great movie, loved ever minute, fantastic scene with de niro and pacino clasping hands at the end with moby's god moving over the face of waters in the background...

Valmont

I agree with everything said above but I'm reluctant to say I didn't like the ending (I didn't) because the film really was perfect on so many levels. I'm a big DeNiro fan and I like Pacino too.

Can anyone shed some light on this animosity between them? I never heard about it before. I thought they'd be great buddies:p

lostexpectation

anybody else not just totally underwhelmed by "that scene"

Savman

lostexpectation wrote: »

anybody else not just totally underwhelmed by "that scene"

That was the whole idea, it was so hyped up because it was a long time coming and a lesser director in a lesser film would have just had the 2 of them going at each other in some argy bargy competition to see who could shout loudest while having the meanest looking face.

On the contrary, they are both very relaxed, the whole scene is done very quietly and you can sense the mutual respect, they are almost cracking jokes ffs. It could've just went like this:

Pacino: "I will get you"
DeNiro: "Oh no you wont"
Pacino: "Oh yes I will"
DeNiro: "Oh no you wont"
[repeat]


So yeah it's underwhelming, for the better IMHO.

Sad Professor

I agree with the above. In fact the film's dialogue felt quite refreshing to me in the wake of all the Tarantino imitators at the time. Movie dialogue can be a bit too clever sometimes. The conversations in Heat seemed realistic and ordinary. I especially liked the first scene between De Niro and Amy Brenneman. By keeping the dialogue low-key Mann gave the actors more space to act between their lines. A lot of directors/editors cut too sharply on the dialogue.