Heat succeeds on so many levels, but to begin, one must look at the exceptional cast. Kilmer, while clearly projecting Shiherlis' skill at his craft, nonetheless is able to vividly convey the emotion his character feels with regards to his family. Jon Voight excels in a small role as Nate, the group's main topside contact. Since his return to prominence after nearly a decade of obscurity, Voight has not ceased to amaze me with his talent and persona. Amy Brenneman and Ashley Judd deliver capable performances in underwritten roles as the significant others of McCauley and Shiherlis.
Heat also delivers in terms of the mere feel and pace of the film.
The actual bank robbery, occuring a little more than midway through the film, is one of the best I have seen, at least in terms of keeping the viewer glued to the tense circumstances. This is helped due the fact that we have come to develop an emotional attachment to the criminals, who, though dwelling on the wrong side of the law, are men with families and futures just like the detectives who are pursuing them. That realism, along with a well-written story that steers away from typical role conventions, drives Heat , right to the upper echelon of 1995's best films. Rated R for violence and langauge.