Looking Back: Heat
After recently rewatching a classic 90s crime drama, I have some new thoughts
Directed by Michael Mann and starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, and Ashley Judd, among many other recognizable faces, Heat was a solid success upon its release in 1995. The film grossed $67.4 million domestically and $187.4 million worldwide, against a $60 million budget. Moreover, it garnered enthusiastic reviews from both critics and audiences, while its reputation remains strong to this day.
I first watched this film about five years ago when I was fifteen and found it to be overlong and rather boring. The shoot-outs and chase scenes were thrilling and felt ahead of their time, but everything in between was a drag. Despite my doubts, I stumbled upon this film on Netflix last week and decided to revisit it, prompted by Michael Mann’s recent release Ferrari and the discussions surrounding Heat 2, which is set to serve as both a prequel and sequel. After finishing the film, I found myself in a state of astonishment. Heat was not only phenomenal but also one of the best police films I have seen and, more broadly, one of the best movies overall.
First and foremost, the performances of Pacino and De Niro are captivating, making it easy to become deeply invested in this film. Pacino adeptly embodies the character of Vincent Hanna, a driven and intense LAPD detective. The scenes involving his relationship with his third wife, Justine Hanna (Diane Venora), and stepdaughter (Natalie Portman) are compelling, as he grapples with the challenge of balancing his personal life with the demands of his career. The intense cat-and-mouse dynamic between Hanna and Neil McCauley (De Niro) adds a thrilling layer, as Hanna is determined to bring down this mastermind criminal. McCauley, with aspirations of asserting his dominance and completing one final heist despite the encroaching authorities, creates a compelling contrast.
Despite being on opposite sides of the law, a mutual respect gradually develops between Hanna and McCauley. The diner sequence, occurring roughly two hours into the film, is powerful and significantly heightens the stakes for the impending finale. The handling of the character Waingro (Kevin Gage) is excellent. Just when you may forget about his initial role in the opening sequence, he reappears, leading to devastating consequences for McCauley and his team just before the final heist.
Other character dynamics, such as the relationship between Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) and his wife Charlene (Ashley Judd), were compelling and addressed the persistent tension that Charlene grapples with throughout the entirety of the film. Despite expressing distaste for her husband's work and the potential jeopardy it poses to her family, she cannot escape her sincere love for him. In a pivotal moment near the end, when presented with the opportunity to lead him into a trap with the police, she secretly relays a message to him indicating that the situation is not safe.
Even the brief dinner sequence, where we witness McCauley and his crew sharing a meal with their families at a fancy restaurant, gives them a larger-than-life personality that allows for a stronger connection and resonance with these characters, despite their unlawful actions. Toward the end, I found myself rooting for the bank robbers, longing for them to achieve victory.
I touched on this earlier, but this film was truly ahead of its time. From the compelling script and character developments to the impressive action sequences, Heat represents a cinematic achievement that many modern-day filmmakers would find challenging to replicate. Recent films, including Den of Thieves, The Town, and Triple 9, among others, have attempted to emulate the success of Heat but have fallen short. Meanwhile, Heat has not only stood the test of time but has also become a source of inspiration for numerous productions, such as The Dark Knight and Baby Driver.
The bank shootout scene, in particular, was emotionally crafted and expertly filmed, swiftly depicting the intense situation while adding layers of emotions and excitement.
Aside from one small issue, I would say that this is a near-perfect film. The concern lies within McCauley's storyline, particularly his romance with Eady (Amy Brenneman). While I understand that this relationship was included to underscore McCauley's iconic statement, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner," the romance itself felt somewhat forced.
McCauley's attraction to Eady begins after she recognizes him out and about from being in her bookstore, and the romance rapidly unfolds. After only two encounters witnessed in the film, McCauley instructs Eady to pack up all her belongings and disappear with him following the final heist. Making this decision was not easy, but in the end, she agrees to go with him. This choice felt somewhat awkward, as there simply was not enough build-up to justify such a significant outcome for Eady.
Otherwise, Heat is extraordinary and an absolute triumph from start to finish. It marks the peak of Michael Mann’s career as a director, showcasing one of the best performances in Pacino and De Niro's careers. Currently, it also stands as one of the most notable Oscar snubs in film history.
By: WannaB.O. Junior Intern Jack