Classic

Rating: 10/10 (22 June 2003)

I have seen this movie probably 15 or 20 times, and each time I finish it I remain convinced that it deserves consideration as one of the best all-time crime dramas. Certainly it is one of the better assemblages of screen talent you'll see in any movie. Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, together onscreen for the first time since Godfather II, electrify the screen with their roles as cop and thief. The conflicts they face, both with each other and in other areas of their lives, relays to us the great human drama that lies at the heart of the movie. Both actors shine as they try to find balance and stability in their singleminded endeavors. If you don't care to analyze it that deeply, Pacino and DeNiro are simply phenominal actors.

Let's not forget the rest of the crew, either. Val Kilmer, in my opinion, gives us the greatest role he has ever played. Tom Sizemore, a perennial supporting player, gives a fabulous performance, one which reminds us of how underrated an actor he is. Jon Voight, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman, Jeremy Piven, Natalie Portman, and Henry Rollins (among others) all do their part to add to this masterwork. Michael Mann has solidified himself as a player in American Cinema with his stunning direction of this film. The film owes much of it's effect to Dante Spinotti's cinematography, which includes one of the most intense and impressive shootouts in all of movie history.

I can't say enough good things about this film. It is a true classic, possibly the vehicle in which we see the last truly great performances from Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro, two giants of the American cinema.

10/10