A slick a action movie with better than average acting

Rating: 6/10 (4 January 2002)

I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but it ain't that good. Yes, there's a lot of action and snappy dialogue, and not many dull moments. I was entertained. But this is not one of the great cop films of all time. Call me old fashioned, but I appreciate the gritty, grind it out cops like Popeye Doyle,Frank Bullitt, and even Harry Callahan to Vincent Hanna. Somehow, I have difficulty envisioning Hanna staking out the front of a restaurant in NYC on a very cold and damp evening. I guess what I'm trying to say is that try as hard as Mann did, I was never convinced that Vincent Hanna was a blue collar cop.
Michael Mann churns out very stylish films, and this one is no different. He's got two great actors and a fine ensemble cast. I particularly admire Tom Sizemore's performance. This could have been a far better film had Mann made his cop and robber a little less "Hollywood" and a little more believable. These guys are just a little bigger than life.
Comparing this movie to French Connection is like comparing Miami Vice to Kojak. I can do with a little less emphasis on the sound track and a little more emphasis on reality.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for a very entertaining two hours, you can do a lot worse than Heat. 6/10!