"Two of the greats=The Greatest"

Rating: 10/10 (30 January 1999)

If you look at the cast of 'Heat' you must think to yourself that you can't go wrong. And, yes, this is very true. But to make a great movie you must, also, have a strong story. This film has it. The film follows two sides to a very gripping story. On one side, you have the on-edge detective, Vincent Hanna (played exceptionally by Al Pacino). You see the drama and heartache he must go through to be so dedicated to his work. On the other side, you have Robert De Niro's Neil McCauley, who, in his own right, is a honest man. The regrets he has and the pain he faces by being a criminal are both well played without exactly making you feel sorry for him. Then, as the two slowly some together through their own destinies, you get to see the bond and similarities they share. This film actually has three climactic points. The first is the meeting in the coffee house. It is there that they both show how much they actually respect each other. The second is the robbery sequence. This is probably one of the greatest action sequences ever to grace film. The final climax is just that, the final sceen. It is the final showdown between Pacino and De Niro.
Now, as I have already said, the film's two main stars could at least make this worth watching. But the directing by Michael Mann and the supporting cast are what really make this movie so attractive. Val Kilmer as Chris Shiherlis gives a unique side story to the film. It's the relationship with his wife, played by Ashley Judd, that we find ourselves being drawn into. Wes Studi and Mykelti Williamson play Vincent Hanna's right hand men. And, Tom Sizemore plays the third out of three crucial parts to the gang. You also can't forget the musical score. Beautifully played, it really accents the happenings of the movie. This is the only movie in my life that I can literally watch over and over again. The reason why, because I can never decide what outcome I want. Do I want Hanna to catch McCauley, or do I want McCauley to keep driving for the airport before he veers off to the hotel. The final, seemingly most important part of this movie, the clasping of hands. When Hanna is holding McCauley's hand you really get a sense of what this movie is about.