Heat (1995)
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Jon Voight, Wes Studi, Natalie Portman
Primary genre: Crime
Secondary genre: Drama
A prime example of how to do an action film for intellectuals, Michael Mann’s “Heat” is still the king of crime epics. Wide in scope and populated with several plot threads that come nice together after a three hour running time, Mann’s own script does not waste precious cinematic time to tell a coherent and frankly, engaging story.
What could have been easily a cookie cutter bank-heist-going-wrong flick, is instead a meticulously thought out labyrinth of interconnected subplots which although might seem initially pointless, they eventually reward patient viewers offering nuanced emotional layers and mini arcs to most of the ensemble cast painting their swan songs (if any) all the more meaningful and satisfying.
There are no cliches here, bombastic action sequences or thunderous music. Mann’s cold approach to the proceedings gifts them a sense of ultra realism where exposition is limited only to the details of the robberies or investigation procedures. And even then Mann is reluctant to overwhelm the audience with artificiality going instead straight for the heart and allowing his likeable and deeply flawed characters to extend the story by actions and not words; thinking on the spot like the pros they are and we the audience are in this journey together, coppers and robbers alike, it makes no difference; a specific glance is enough to indicate what a person is thinking or going to do.
Supported by an ensemble cast of veterans and newcomers, the legends of Pacino and De Niro elevate this thematically strong film into the stratosphere. Having a more than capable director at a steering wheel helps obtaining two of the finest performances of of all time. Making cinematic history, Mann brought these two acting behemoths together for the very first time (“The Godfather Part II” (1974) does not count) in the now iconic for all the right reasons dinner scene. Sharing an electrifying chemistry, De Niro and Pacino give subtle hints to their criminal and cop counterparts with honest acting and an emotionally mature storytelling capability the likes we have not seen before (or after). Vincent Hanna and Neil McCauley are such distinct individuals and yet they are two sides of the same coin. These are two people on the edge for different reasons; one’s life is in ruins, the other does not even have one. In an alternative reality they could have been best pals but the law is the law. As the film progress, in a stroke of genius they mirror each other’s actions, with a more calculating Vincent and a more impulsive Neil. This is rich stuff here.
Shot beautifully and mostly during the night by Dante Spinotti (“The Last of the Mohicans” (1992), “L.A. Confidential“ (1997)), the City of Angels never looked better. Minimal light sources are enough to display a monochromatic color palette that captures various shapes and forms which reside within the busy streets of L.A or the houses in East LA and Malibu. Yet, from above Mann seems to suggest, there is an undeniable beauty in these brightly lit squares blocks that have potential to tell various stories; bank robberies, marriages falling apart, crime investigations and assassinations are all surrounded by betrayal, ambition, acceptance, loyalty and resilience, ordinary ingredients of this infamous city and its denizens. Placing a strong emphasis on architecture (a trait of Mann) enhanced by a minimalistic production design that embraces cold, vast spaces and the grey color, “Heat” can be seen as a beginner’s guide of establishing meaningful and context heavy shots without relying on forced voice overs and lame exposition. Every shot is simply perfect.
This lack of sensationalism, melodrama and “cool” shenanigans gives plenty of room for short but explosive action moments that since 1995, have set a standard with their technical panache and grounded presentation. Half way through, a bank heist sequence is a testament to action filmmaking and a delightful highlight of what bullet chaos might be in real life. The lack of visual flair and entertaining flashy explosiveness which for example, a Michael Bay has, is replaced by an intense cat and mouse game that does justice to its characters, their actions and their incoming consequences. Repeated viewings confirm this too.
Three hour films are always a tricky business, if they lack an engaging story and good acting as they can easily derail even the most patient viewer yet “Heat” pulls it off effortlessly. Relying on a strong ensemble cast, it boasts incredible acting in the Pacino-De Niro duo, expertly staged action, suspense and engaging protagonists around a rich plot. You cannot go wrong with a film of this acting, script, direction and technical caliber. The “Heat” is on and for a good reason.
Michael Mann’s perfect crime epic
+The cast! The CAST!
+Pacino/De Niro
+That coffee scene
+The best bank heist scene
+Likeable characters
+Ultra realistic
+Meticulous direction by Mann
+Copious amounts of suspense
+Wide in scope
+Sharp characterization
+LA never looked better in the night