Beautiful, epic, real.

Rating: Null/10 (17 October 2004)

Heat is a visually wonderful effort from the skilled shop of Michael Mann. A remake of his 1989 movie "LA Takedown", one might be concerned at the result, perhaps it would result in a self-centered sprawl.
The true result is an Epic masterpiece, at 164 minutes Mann maintains an unswerving grip on the storyline and more importantly one's attention. Pacino and De Niro may not breach the boxes that they have come to occupy so well, but instead excel as obsessive detective Vincent Hanna (Pacino) and his alter-ego, sharp suited master thief Neil McCauley (De Niro). The storyline is woven around the two characters, who come to the realisation that they share an obsessive quality that lays their relationships to ruin. An unlikely, if somewhat romanticised respect is born between the two that plays on the emotions of the audience.
The story culminates in a startlingly realistic shootout on the streets of LA. Heat is well worth the time, probably not believable - but real, probably not the best acting - but a spectacular and even moving film.
Look out for godfather Jon Voight, a horrifyingly evil performance from Kevin Cage and "Wild Thing" Tone Loc talking jive in the club.