Pacino and DeNiro heating it up on screen

Rating: Null/10 (24 July 2002)

This movie has got it going on, plain and simple. Not only does the cast rock, but the direction, action scenes, and story are all equally worth of praise.
'Heat' is a crime movie where guys on either side of the law are willing to take things as far as they can go. Robert DeNiro plays Neil McCauley, the leader of a tight unit of friends that plan and execute risky robberies that pay off well. Al Pacino is the detective Vincent Hanna who's on the case and hot on McCauley's trail. Michael Mann who directs brings the viewer into each of these lead characters' lives and we develop an understanding of what they are--which turns out to be what they're after.

The first time I saw any of this film was when my father was watching it and called me into the room just when that explosive gun battle poured into the streets of L.A.. I have seen tons of shoot-em up scenes in movies before, but nothing ever has compared to the 10 minute or so downtown shoot-out between DeNiro's crew and the police. The rounds fired in this scene is incredible--the sound is deafening and bullets are ripping through cars and shattering glass everywhere. Mann does a great job here by taking the camera and running with it along side some of the characters as the run through the urban terrain shooting and taking cover. And the buildup to all of this is worth mentioning too. DeNiro and company smoothly get in and out of a bank with bundles of money stuffed in duffel bags draped over their shoulders. Everything looks good as they leave and approach the getaway car until the last one in, Val Kilmer, gets spooked when he sees a cop across the street and starts spraying rounds from his automatic rifle. And as I described, things continue to get hot.
The supporting cast in this movie is awesome. Val Kilmer is DeNiro's main guy and by the end of the film you feel his pain and sympathize with the fact that he gets away but is forced to turn his back on his wife. Tom Seizmore plays another bad guy and he is just a cool cat throughout the movie. Even Henry Rollins is in here, and he definitely gets away with his role...good job. I'll mention one other, and that's Jon Voight. He is Nate, the guy behind the scenes who makes it all happen for McCauley's crew, the one who things go through before they get to McCauley. Also, when you're watching, you should know that the scene where Pacino and DeNiro are sitting across the table from each other in the diner is the only time the two shared the camera together.
I really love this movie. Every time I see it though I wish DeNiro would never turn that car around and just proceed to the airport with his girl. But that really can't happen now, can it? But the end moment between Pacino and DeNiro is still one of my favorites, and the soundtrack just amplifies the emotion I get from watching it. I can keep going on with this sort of stuff, but I'm not. This is just a must-see for anyone who enjoys watching these actors at work, or anyone into unbelievable gun battles that tear apart a city block!