Review of White Heat (1949) by Luke B — 26 Dec 2008
Cagney plays one of the most fascinating characters ever put on film. A mother's boy gangster slowly descending into pure insanity. White Heat is a real cops and robbers drama and stands up today against all the greatness it has inspired.
The procedural elements of the police hunt can be seen today in The Wire and the under-cover aspects were both tackled in similar ways for Reservoir Dogs and The Departed. It's an exciting watch, where the editing is noticeably quick for 1949.
The performances are all strong, with Cagney being terrifying but also empathetic. The climax is exactly that, bringing the film to a fantastic end with a single line echoing the entire film before it.
An amazing crime drama with equal focus on either side of the law. Well developed characters and enough intensity to keep you hooked to the very end.
This review of White Heat (1949) was written by Luke B on 26 Dec 2008.
White Heat has generally received very positive reviews.
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