Best Movie Ever?

Rating: 10/10 (30 March 2004)

Yep.
There's really no logical way to debate it, but, for me personally, no better film has been made. Seriously. I know, I know; I sound like that stupid friend of yours who keeps telling you "Flatliners" was the greatest thing ever, that you just don't understand the subtle nuances of Kiefer Sutherland's Oscar-worthy performance...thing is, I just can't think of any criticism of Heat that stands up under scrutiny.
Too long? Hell no. It's epic, it's supposed to be three hours. Pretentious and heavy-handed? No, it just takes itself seriously, which is only a crime if you're making a movie about Jesus. Not enough interaction between DeNiro and Pacino? Guess what: the script was written in the early eighties, it was actually supposed to be a TV mini-series, so they didn't center the story around the brand-name actors who would be playing the two main characters (maybe they made a mistake marketing the film as DeNiro and Pacino Sharing The Screen For The First Time Ever, but that's a marketing fault, not a fault of the film).
So, pair the fact that there is nothing substantially wrong with this movie (and there is something a little bit wrong with EVERY movie, even Return Of The King, with the slow-motion This Is Your Life scene at Frodo's bedside) with the fact the story is held together by some of the most underrated great scenes in movie history, and you see what I'm saying. The shoutout? Everyone knows about the kick-ass shoot-out. The part where the cops are doing surveillance on the crooks, then realize that they're the ones being watched? C'mon! The part where DeNiro hooks up with Judging Amy at the diner, then gives her a glass of water in the morning, with the napkin folded all fancy? C'mon! The part where Ashley Judd gives Batman Forever the hand signal from the balcony? Fuggedaboutit!
At the very least, you have to agree that it's the greatest supporting cast of all time. Jeremy Piven and Tone Loc, in the same movie? Forget DeNiro and Pacino.
I'm telling you: Heat is the greatest movie of all time. And if you think otherwise, it's because you just don't understand the subtle nuances of Kiefer Sutherland's Oscar-worthy performance.