Masterpiece! Great movie about the human condition

Rating: 9/10 (15 January 2014)

On the surface, the movie is a crime movie. At it's core, it's a movie about the human condition. I first saw the movie when I was in college. Initially, I was impressed by the action. The shootout in downtown L.A. still ranks as one of the best action sequences in history. As I got older, the relationships and personalities contrasted with the city gave me a whole new appreciation for the movie.
A common character thread with Neal McCauley and Vincent Hanna is obsession. Both are obsessed with their jobs because in a sense, it is a total reflection of who they are. McCauley's life stresses mobility while Hanna's emphasizes isolation. These attitudes, they believe, keep them one step ahead. Of course, these attitudes also leave their respective personal lives a mess, which they both readily admit to.
In spite of this, neither refuse to change because they are so obsessed with their respective jobs that no relationship can get in the way. The chemistry between Hanna and McCauley feels so genuine. After the diner scene, another masterpiece in my opinion, you can see that they both gained an appreciation for one another in spite of their lives being diametrically opposed to one another.
The end scene is so powerful. The diner scene foreshadows an eventual showdown where they both agree that only one will come out alive. When Hanna shoots McCauley, Vincent holds Neal's hand until he dies. For me, this made the movie. The act of Neal and Vincent embracing symbolizes so many things. In a way, Vincent and Neal are showing a sign of mutual respect for one another as competitors often do when they shake hands. It also symbolizes loneliness and isolation. McCauley's lifestyle has bought him to this point and he knows then that he will die alone with no attachments. Hanna in a way sees this and as he looks out at LAX sees a similar fate is in store for him. Hanna, in spite of shooting and fatally wounding McCauley, does not want him to die alone because it is such a cruel fate. So he does the human thing and does not let Neal die alone. I also get the feeling that Vincent shows not a sense of remorse but a sense of loss after Neal passes. This is because they were kindred spirits who understood each other. A tragic but profound ending.
This movie has been in my top 10 for over a decade and will probably remain for a while. Mann is an amazing director and Heat is one of his many crowning achievements.