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"Things Are Really
Heating Up" |
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Directed by Michael Mann
- Written by Michael
Mann
Starring Al Pacino,
Robert DeNiro, Dennis
Haysbert, Jeremy Piven,
Val Kilmer
Distributed by Warner
Brothers - 1995 -
188mins - Rated R |
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When you take two of the greatest actors
who have ever lived and stick them in a movie where they play
antagonists to each other, you know it's already going to have some
good qualities. |
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That is just the case with "Heat," a cop VS robber epic directed by
Michael Mann. Al Pacino (the greatest actor who has ever lived in my
opinion) is a cop on the trail of a team of high-tech bank robbers led
by Robert DeNiro (not far from Pacino on the acting scale). We are
shown two stories: one about a good cop doing his best to track down a
criminal, and another story about that criminal trying to evade the
cops and get his work done.
That is where the character twist is thrown in: Pacino's cop (the
usual symbol of good) is pretty cold and dislikable, while DeNiro's
bank robber/murderer (of course, the usual villain) seems like a nice
guy who wants to get out of the business. Our "villain" is sympathetic
while our "hero" is quite the opposite. This is wonderful because it
forces the viewer to disregard what he has learned to be morally right
and choose who to support.
The film is slow paced: it shows us exactly what cops must do to track
down criminals in every detail, and at the same time, shows us the
equally agonizing steps toward making a successful bank robbery. For
all we know, it does not really go down this way, but it is
fascinating nonetheless.
There are two extremely strong parts of "Heat" and one mediocre one.
First off, the acting is wonderful. Not only from Pacino and DeNiro,
but from Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Dennis Haysbert (who I originally
only knew as the president on "24"), and Tom Sizemore. The two best
scenes in the film do include those acting masters, though. In one,
Pacino and DeNiro meet face to face in a diner. Pacino is here not to
make an arrest, and DeNiro is not here to kill his enemy, they are
here to see the antagonist that rivals their every action. They
realize that they are not so different, and they do not hate each
other, but respect each other and it is only because of their careers
that they realize that one of them is going to die at the other's
hands. The second best scene is the climax, and while I will refrain
from details, I will tell you that is suspenseful and underplayed, and
overall, brilliant.
The second best part of the film is the action. While there is not a
whole lot of it, the few scenes that do have it are staged
realistically and have you on the edge of your seat throughout the
entire film.
From what I have written above, "Heat" is worthy of an A+, easily.
That it why it is unfortunate that it bogs down. Not during the action
or the tracking/evading scenes, but when the story shifts home. "Heat"
is 172 minutes long. It's too bad that about 40 of these minutes are
boring, soap opera like sludge that features predictable scenes such
as the cop's girlfriend being mad that he is never home, and the
criminal's wife threatening divorce unless he gets out of his job.
If it wasn't for those scenes, "Heat" would be a near perfect film. My
advice: buy "Heat," and scene skip through the thin layer of crap to
find the many gems. Believe me, it is worth it. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
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TC Candler's Comment
A good
film that may deserve a second look. I am
not sure that I fully appreciated it the first
time.
Richard Propes' Comment
n/a
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