Heat (1995)

Great film, good Blu

Was just checking up on the Blu to verify one of my favorite films was given a decent transfer.

The picture quality was solid, grainy in a few of the night interior shots (Ashley Judd's scenes with the trap house & cops shows some actual pores but when out of focus looks very grainy). The famous shoot out sequence looks valid, but the TrueHD seemed a little muted. The best sound test was when Studi's character shotguns the hotel door - that rocked. Overall, the Blu only shows the shortcomings of original filming but the upgrade is worth it (for the first time I noticed all of the cameramen/crew in the window shot when Deniro kills Fichtner's character).

The supplements are all identical to the special edition release. They show 10 subtitled languages and no region coding listed. I am happy with the cut, and it will play nicely for sharing just not the best for sound. 5 for film, clarity and supplements. November 7, 2009

Pure intensity.

In what is arguably one of the finest heist movies in history, "Heat" pits two acting heavy-weights in Robert De Niro and Al Pacino against one another. One is a professional thief, so well seasoned that he has avoided the law for as long as he can probably remember. The other is a troubled homicide detective whose third marriage is fizzling out due to his over-riding commitment to his job. Each character ultimately finds he has more in common with his adversary than with his peers. Both are flawed, tired and run-down middle-aged men who, in the immortal words of Roger Murtaugh (see: Lethal Weapon - The Complete Series) are "getting too old for this ...."

"Heat" is hardly your average cops and robbers tale. It's long, it's sweeping and is steeped in character moments and conversations. While much of the hype about the film has always revolved around its finale - the bank robbery - it's the small moments that make the film. Take for instance a scene in the middle of the film where Pacino, too tired and beat down to do anything else, tracks down his suspect (De Niro) and invites him for a cup of coffee where the two talk shop and in spite of mutual respect for one another, both vow not to back down. This moment serves to build the tension that is the big pay-off in the film. You get to know and feel for these very real and very flawed characters, so that when the heat is on, so to speak, you don't know who to cheer for anymore.

Undeniably, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are the stars of the film and are a large part of its greatness, but it is also Michael Mann's (Collateral (Two-Disc Special Edition), Manhunter) unique eye and story-telling sense that defines the film as well. Despite his insuppressible style, the film still retains a gritty, realistic air that is best evidenced in a shootout that takes place in the Los Angeles streets. Without a doubt, this is the director's masterpiece and definitely one of the best of its kind. It's a true epic that is filed to the brim with intense acting (nobody's forgotten about you either, Val) and complicated characters as intricate as the job they are trying to do. For all intents and purposes, "Heat" lives up to its name.
October 13, 2009

HEAT

Great movie, one of Mann's best films. It can be a little slow at points and its kind of long, but the story is good. September 26, 2009

An L.A. epic

As we all know, the film Righteous Kill wasn't the first time we have had two godlike actors together. True, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro were both in The Godfather Part II, but they never appeared together onscreen. But here, we have them together onscreen for the first time, even though it's only ten minutes total. But this isn't the only thing that makes Heat so special.

This is certainly one of Michael Mann's most extraordinary films, along with Last Of The Mohicans and Collateral. It's more of a psychological experience (with some operatic touches in the story) when you think about it. Vincent Hanna (Pacino) is a hot-headed Detective who is primarily obssessed with his career, which makes his personal life even more of a living hell. Neil McCauley (De Niro), on the other hand, is a calm professional thief who strictly believes in one rule: "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." That is, until a young woman comes into his life. These two figures of undeniable differences collide into what becomes an official operatic tragedy.

This is a complete work of art. It's just as epic as the Godfather saga (excluding the length). I love how all the sub-plots are connected with each other, and how we get to understand many of the supporting characters. I especially love the shots of Los Angeles: the scenes in where the skyscrapers are in the background blend in almost perfectly. I especially love Pacino's sarcastic dialogue ("'Cause she got . . . a GREAT A**!"). I even love Dennis Haysbert's own little storyline, and how it relates to an even harsher reality. And don't think that I'll leave out the famous shootout sequence in the middle of the film, because I'm smarter than that. This sequence has got to be one of the finest action sequences ever put on film. The lack of background music makes it all much more realistic, the assault rifles and their echoed sounds are truly authentic, the bullet holes are spot-on, and even the fear and panic of the L.A. citizens become a welcome addition. By the way, Kilmer's reloading should be something worth watching. Why? Because it's bad@**!

We've probably all seen Mann, Pacino, and De Niro's films more than once. This one I'll always rewatch until my DVD wears out. This is a classic film of the 90's. I can safely recommend this film to fans of Pacino, De Niro, Kilmer, Mann, action, suspense, drama, and even Moby.

Grade: A September 17, 2009

Mann is the Man!

What with Thief, Manhunter, Mohicans, Insider, Collateral, and even Miami Vice, it could be tres dificil to pick one. But Heat makes it easy. Mann proves you don't need complicated premises to show the story's complexity, he uses the characters to do that for him. And as a note, DeNero's perfomance is a beatifully tightly wound gem that shows the last time he really disappeared into a role. September 15, 2009

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