The apex of Michael Mann's career?

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2007)

When I first saw Heat, I was too young to understand the detailed battle between the "flip sides of the same coin." Now, after watching it almost a dozen times, I believe history may look at this movie as the best and most personal film of Michael Mann's career. The flaws are there, but this is an example of a movie so big and splendid that it is capable of gobbling up its own missteps (like Ashley Judd's performance). The style, while not overwrought, really brings Los Angeles to life. This is a sprawling movie with a sprawling cast that could easily suck if it weren't for Mann's obvious visual talent (Michael Bay of Bad Boys fame could take a page from the Mann book of cinematic style) and the great acting of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. This film will always be in my "top five."