New Michael Mann brilliance

Rating: Null/10 (16 August 2004)

As an avid fan of Michael Mann's previous offerings (Ali, Heat, The Insider, Last of The Mohicans) this film was an absolute 'must watch'. 'Heat' was, for me, the defining film of the 90s and included a tremendous cast, namely Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. Watching this new offering from Mann shows a massive amount of homage to 'Heat'. This is a very good thing in my opinion! Just look at the opening scene. Tom Cruise walking his way through a crowded foyer, gray hair, sharp gray suit, hypnotic sense of urgency, but waves of cool aswell. Anyone remember the opening scene of 'Heat'? Much the same, but without the suit and massive amounts more of cool from DeNiro. The suit, however, appears later in 'Heat'. Tremendous shaky hand-help camera work is a welcome return from Mann. Excellent use of filters and long-range shooting in parts. Overhead, top-down views of L.A. again show massive amounts of 'Heat' flashback. Occasional scenes with very little or no sound demonstrate Mann's very distinctive style and panache. Once again, a very well placed soundtrack with the flagship track adding some brilliant tension to an otherwise quiet scene. (See scene where cab is stopped and a fox wonders across the road, before they set off again).
Overall, a very well directed film. Whether you like Cruise or not, I feel he played the part very well and it was nice to see some element of DeNiro in his persona.
Worth every minute of watching.