Heated and Smoking like Gun Barrel

Rating: 10/10 (13 February 2006)

I maybe a bit too liberal with my grading, but I honestly believe that it is one of the best films ever made. Heat is an incredible epic, packed with memorable, absorbing, succulent and real moments. This film also offers stunning visuals. Be it the scene where Bob De Niro and Amy Brenneman are falling in love while the city lights shine below or the violent shootout, bank robbery scene, we are punched in the face with the awesome cinematography of Dante Spinotti. I also love the fact that Mr. Mann wanted to shoot this in real places in the LA Area.
The cast is absolutely excellent. Al Pacino was absolutely fabulous. Every line he spat out has me in either stitches or left me awe struck. His performance was as powerful as his .45 Caliber sidearm. And we cannot forget Rober De Niro's doomed character. He played this magnificently. De Niro was great as the cool under pressure leader of a group of professional robbers. Though he was a robber, a good one at that, he was also a good man and displayed his goodness by helping out his friends, especially the character played by Val Kilmer. His character was one that grew on me. As I discovered his loneliness, I started to feel for him. It's amazing how he took a character who is this professional robber and gave him this real human element to him.
The rest of the cast was just as gorgeous. Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Jon Voight, Kevin Gage and yes even Natalie Portman all made strong impacts in this film.
One scene really stood out to me. It wasn't the ending shot or the meeting, though those scenes were absolute screen magic. I'd have to choose the scene where Robert De Niro is sitting at the table with his group at that fancy place having a good time. As he looks around the table, he sees that they all have someone special in their lives. It's at that point he discovers he is lonely.
"I know life is short, whatever time you get is luck."