A slick, polished thriller

Rating: Null/10 (14 July 2013)

Movie fans and film snobs already acclaim Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino as two of the best actors in the history of entertainment. From the past experience of putting them in the same movie, The Godfather Part II, magic is bound to spark. While Heat isn't quite what one would assume it to be, it succeeds at being a mature, emotional experience that defines itself at the top of the action genre for years to come. Robert DeNiro has a beef with politicians during elections: they tear their opponents down and sacrifice their dignity instead of trying to prove themselves to the American people. Heat is an action thriller with dignity. While other action movies are concerned with what neat stunts can they throw at the audience, Heat internally speaks to the viewer as well as bringing well choreographed action scenes.
Director Michael Mann, makes Heat more personal than most action thrillers. In fact, Mann doesn't tell the story as if it were a action movie at all. He tells a story centering in on the lives of two men who are connected by a few pieces of action. Mann delivers the film with a tense feeling, and establishes a gloomy tone. The engrossing score is cautiously placed the in the correct places. Heat succeeds technically, as well; the sound quality that adds to the excitement of the action scenes. The suspense is successful because Mann creates the film's tension sensitively. All the action and suspense is met perfectly because of the tender touch of Michael Mann.
DeNiro and Pacino lead the adept cast creating one heck of an acting ensemble. Al Pacino has moments of greatness, but those are contrasted with some cringe-inducing moments. His highs are pretty high though and make up for the brief moments of instability. DeNiro, playing the darker character, is solid and consistent from his first scene to the last, giving him DeNiro the slight edge over Pacino. Both are great actors doing great work. Like their first appearance together, The Godfather Part II, they each lead their own section of the film, but in Heat they come into one-on-one contact half-way through the movie. It's a rare scene when the cop and the bad guy sit down for conversation and coffee.
"Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in thirty seconds flat if you the heat around the corner," is a line said by Robert DeNiro's character that resonates a lot of what the film is about. Heat is a slick polished thriller that holds carefully plotted action scenes while packing a powerful punch in the topics of abandonment, life, and admiration. The last scene's poignancy solidifies Heat as a movie to remember.
Rating: 8/10
Grade: A-