Mouth-watering action

Rating: 7/10 (17 May 2010)

De Niro and Pacino together is enough to make your mouth water isn't it? Well it is mine. Michael Mann has done an excellent job with this stellar cast, bringing what is essentially a thinking man's action film to the screen.
De Niro and Pacino are awesome, one as the pro-thief who coldly moves within his world of organised hits and planned jobs, and the other as the world weary cop who is on the edge yet cannot give up doing the only thing he knows. For these two alone the film is worth it. Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore also put in strongly as De Niro's associates, as does Jon Voight. The girls, sadly second to the boys in a film such as this, do well too. Diane Venora, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman and Natalie Portman lead the way.
The only thing that knocks this flick down a peg or two is its over-length; and that by only fifteen to twenty minutes. Michael Mann (director) dwells a little too long on a couple of scenes toward the end when his audience is itching for the climax. Our writer-director really built the tension too well. Features a great score from Elliot Goldenthal.
Sunday, January 2, 2000 - Video