A modern crime classic

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2013)

At the time of its release, "Heat" was notable for being the first meeting of Al Pacino & Robert De Niro on the big screen. True, they'd both been in "The Godfather: Part II" but their stories were set in different time periods so they never shared any scenes.
Here, De Niro plays professional bank robber Neil McCauley while Pacino plays his nemesis, lieutenant Vincent Hanna. Most of the movie is a cat and mouse game as Hanna links McCauley and his crew to a recent heist and begins to anticipate their next move. Meanwhile, the personal relationships of several of the principals are explored as the events of the movie unfold.
As you might expect, the cast is one of the film's greatest assets. In retrospect, it's amazing how many recognizable actors are present here. Then again, who wouldn't want to take part in a movie featuring both Pacino & De Niro? That being said, I don't know if I really consider any of the performances to be particularly outstanding. Pacino can be a bit over the top at times and while De Niro's as solid as always his performance here doesn't rank up there with the likes of "Taxi Driver" & "Raging Bull". The third-billed star, Val Kilmer, is satisfactory but ultimately forgettable.
Michael Mann's script & direction deserve praise but, unaccountably, the movie received very little notice from awards bodies. The film has a vaguely European feel that distinguishes it from most American crime movies. The criminal elements are balanced with interpersonal drama that invests the simple premise with unexpected depth. The film's hefty runtime is justified and, if anything, the movie only becomes more riveting as it goes on.
Dante Spinotti's attractive cinematography is another unheralded aspect of the film. The film's music is also distinctive, with the soundtrack/score having a modern, ambient feel by virtue of featuring music from Moby, William Orbit & Brian Eno, among others. That being said, being unconventional, it may not be to everyone's taste.
In the end, "Heat" is definitely one of the better crime dramas to come out within the last 20 years or so. It's frankly amazing that it was completely ignored by Oscar, Golden Globe & BAFTA voters back when it was originally released. It deserved better, as is evidenced by the continued respect that it receives today.