Review of Heat (1995) by Uriel A. V — 03 Feb 2013

If you wanted to view "Heat" under the pretense of experiencing another heist venture on-screen, then I personally believe you're missing the point. With the chemistry that plays out between Pacino & De Niro, and the very important facet of their dueling roads in life effectively mirroring one another, few films have touched me, personally, in such a powerful way. Pacino's character, Hannah, represents the side of the law, unflinching in his duties no matter what comes before him. De Niro's McCauley, on the other hand, represents the cold-blooded con-man, unflinching in his quest for the next big score. Both have their quarrels to deal with given their trades of choice, and both wonder what it'd be like to try for a change in their tumultuous trappings, but both can't deny the rush, and the passion that brings them back. All of this hits home, very hard, in the closing scene. Indeed, as of this writing I had just shed one of my last tears having finished a viewing session of the film minutes ago. Few films elicit a powerful response since it's a raw, human plot point, made eternally fantastic through the talents of De Niro & Pacino.

There's no denying the heist scene, of course, but that's not the appeal of the film, at least to me.