Well done but unconvincing (some SPOILERS)

Rating: Null/10 (9 November 2003)

I left off watching this movie for a long time, despite being a big fan of both Pacino and DeNiro, because from the trailers it seemed like yet another facile glorification of criminal life. The reviews here made me change my mind and give at a go, but as it turns out, I was right. Despite the gritty cinematography, this is a schoolboy fantasy.
The story with Pacino and his home troubles felt real enough, and although it wasn't very connected to the rest of the movie was the part I enjoyed most. But the endlessly clever, fearless, honourable crooks with their beautiful, noble, self-sacrificing girlfriends.... pur-leaze. And Pacino weeping while music swells over the body of a multiple-cop-killer he met once -- why? Go ahead and connect with your inner schoolboy, enjoy the lovely editing and great score, drink in the craggy-face-fest. But this is simply not a serious look at what crime does to either the perpetrators or the cops who chase them. I have more of a stomach for this sort of thing when it DOESN'T try to be all art-filmy.
"The Sopranos" packs in more honesty about these types of people in two minutes than 'Heat' does in two hours. If you want some true-life cop-n-robber grit, watch "The French Connection" again. If you want a fun heist film, check out the original "Italian Job" (NOT the horrible remake, for the love of God).
Strictly for kids of a certain age.