Review of Heat (1995) by Lauren B — 27 Apr 2012

There are crime movies, wannabes, and everything in between. This is more than a crime movie: "Heat" is the standard by which all its contemporaries are judged.

Set in Los Angeles, writer/director Michael Mann presents the two sides of crime - the guys who take down scores and the guys that try to stop them. Robert DeNiro plays Neil McCauley, a career criminal on the verge of returement, Along with his crew, McCauley takes down an armored care for the bearer bonds belonging to a shady money launderer (William Fichtner). While shaking him down for money, McCauley plans their next scores but Robbery/Homicide Detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) is on his trail.

Mann delivers a well crafted story that isn't just the average run of the mill cops and robbers action flick. Beyond the scores and car chases, Mann creates a complex plot that revolves not only on the gangsters and the police, but also on their personal lives - family, wives, girlfriends, and enemies.

In addition to Pacino and DeNiro, the supporting cast is rounded out with Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Mykelti WIlliamson, Wed Studi, Amy Brenneman, Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Judd, Jon Voight, Danny Trejo and even some great cameo appearances by Henry Rollins, Hank Azaria, Tone Loc, and Jeremy Piven. And let's not forget an early but small role for a very young Natalie Portman as Pacino's troubled stepdaughter.

At just under 3 hours, "Heat" is a viewing investment, However, you'll see how Michael Mann's post-modern heist marvel has inpired some more recent hits including "Drive" (2011), "The Town" (2010), "The Departed" and "Inside Man." This one ranks on my top 20 of all time. Worth seeing more than once.