Heat: A Tale of Flawed Men and The Tragic Ruin Left in Their Wake

Stoic, professional and well collected in dedication to their careers. Admired by many around them yet alone in the world.

When you think 90s crime films, you think Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. Starring in their own blockbuster films was already a treat for cinemagoers. But to share the same screen, better still, the same scenes for the first time, made for a noteworthy event.

Released in 1995, written and directed by Michael Mann, comes the critically acclaimed crime drama, Heat. Based on a true story, it follows Neil McCauley and Lieutenant Vincent Hanna, an experienced thief and a detective in the L.A.P.D. Robbery-Homicide Division. Neil and his seasoned crew of thieves find the law on their trail after their plan to rob an armoured truck fell through, giving them a lead just as the crew tried to pull off one final score.

The initial attraction was Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino’s characters sitting across from each other, so alike even though they are on completely different ends of the spectrum. As the film goes on however, it unveils the opportunity to wholly appreciate the artistic goldmine that it presents. De Niro brings his trademark raw, larger-than-life acting style as seen in Goodfellas and Casino while Pacino brings his Donnie Brasco-esque execution despite being on the right side of the law this time.

20 years in the making, Mann brings a dark twist to the classic game of cat and mouse by showing just how relatable the characters can be through their deep, layered personalities. Both share the same traits of anger and loneliness, devoting all their time to their professions, leaving them preoccupied yet in a void. The constant state of not having enough time to connect with loved ones is something the audience can sympathise with, given how many of us are trying to make the best of what we have with our time here. It illustrates how being alone is unpleasant, if not impractical. However, to truly succeed, one has to be alone, which presents a dichotomy within itself.

If there is one moment that makes this movie worth watching, it is the heist shootout scene. The sound, staging and effects come together to make an exciting sequence worth watching time and again. Apart from being one of the most realistic shootout scenes of all time, the ambience hits as close to reality as possible, with the raw audio of the firing blanks being used in the final cut. The film score feels well thought out, with Elliot Goldenthal composing an atmospheric arrangement that provided a disdainful, emotionally disconnected overtone that provided a harrowing air throughout the film.

The final track especially stands out, complimenting the powerful climax of the film with the orchestra gradually reaching a crescendo as the tension of the scene builds.

All things considered, Heat makes for a well written movie that has held up its own end over the years and is still one of the best crime movies to date. It is a powerful movie that has been impeccably made and deserves more than one viewing in your lifetime.