Perfect Balance

Rating: 10/10 (21 October 1998)

The great strength of Michael Mann's Heat is its balance. This is a movie which is sympathetic to both the "good guys" and the "bad guys". Time is devoted to developing characters on either side of the law. This adds to the tension of the climax, in which the ending could favour either the cop or the criminal (when you first see the movie, at least).
Of course, the movie is also helped by fantastically visual direction, and a taut soundtrack, and an incredible cast, and one of the best heist sequences ever, and...