Heat passes the test

Rating: Null/10 (4 June 2002)

"Heat" has been in nearly constant rotation on HBO lately, and while I was never a passionate fan of this movie, I have to say that it passes the test. That is, whenever I flip to a channel and "Heat" is on, I am inevitably drawn in for at least an hour of it. Even when I do NOT have that hour to spare. It's a riveting movie. Pacino and De Niro are working in their sweet spots and the dirty, slimy sheen of Los Angeles rings very true. A Michael Mann film will never be spotless, it will always over-reach and be, at certain points, pretentious. But Michael Mann's films always draw me in, and "Heat" is his best.