Review of Heat (1995) by Vaikelly — 23 Mar 2011

HEAT is good, seriously good. Pacino and de Niro are just perfect for the characters they play, the direction is equally strong. The length of the movie might be a bit too long for the usual Hollywood flick, but this is serious, heady stuff.

Pacino is quintessential and meticulous as the cop who knows a challenge when he sees one, de Niro is the smooth operator who must always stay a step ahead. The leader of a fearsome crew, de Niro's silent, tough control over his team, over their future, is just perfect.

The supporting cast are equally commendable. Of Michael Mann's best movies, Heat is certainly one of them. Cliched? Not one bit. The best scene of the movie isn't just the diner-coffee scene, it's the first one where de Niro ascends the electric stairs and on to the pavement.

You see the look, the fierceness in his face, the way he walks and does his business, the perfect character played by the perfect actor. Pacino is no less powerful, the way he hankers after his informant, Eddy, the way he gets the 'slick' lead from Eddy's cousin, the way he prowls and stalks de Niro's crew, his tireless dedication to his work - Mann has just handled both these magnificent actors as well as any director has ever done so, with balance and precision.

Pacino and de Niro are subdued in their fierceness, no over-the-top overacting by these two fine actors, it's just classic, downright methodical acting. The story builds up, adds more intrigue and suspense by the minute.

...Heat is one for the ages.