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| Value for Money | 9.3/10  |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | 9.3/10 |
Director Michael MannStarring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight
Features:
| Heat |  | £7.00P&P - Check site |
| Feel The Spirit Of Fire And Heat | | £2.47P&P - Check site |
| Heat Guy J - Complete Series 1 [Box Set] | | £8.00P&P - Check site |
| Aerobics Oz Style - Heat In Your Feet (Do It The Latin Way!) | | £5.47P&P - Check site |
| Desert Heat | | £5.47P&P - Check site |
Full review by
tafflovessheep
expert review 
on 16th Jan 2008
User Rating : 10
Respect :
0
Good Points: Read the general comments box
Bad Points: There aren't any!
General comments: HEAT
Director - Michael Mann, 1995, US
Starring - Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Amy Brenneman, Wes Studi, Dennis Haysbert, Tom Sizemore, Mykelti Wiliamson, Natalie Portman.
Based on a previous endeavour, neatly titled 'LA Takedown' this earlier version provided Mann with the blueprint for what was later to become one of the greatest heist films of all time! Following an almost exact replica of the previous script, Mann turned his 95min action film into almost a three hour film thesis on the cops and robbers genre, only this time on a much bigger budget with a cast deserving of Mann's direction.
The plot is simple, two ruthless professionals - one an obsessive cop, Vincent Hanna (played by Pacino), who's life is starting to crumble around him, the other a master thief, Neil McCauley (played by De Niro), who?s only family is his crew. Both share the same code of honour, but will stop at nothing to reach their objectives. The result is astonishing, a complex and gripping thriller that surpasses all expectations, and plunges deep into the realm of cinema masterpiece!
Dante Spinotti's cinematography is breathtaking; scenes are often filmed with a subtle naturalness, uncomplicated to an extent, which allows Mann to capitalising on the unique selling points and acting ability of the individual characters' such as the coffee shop scene where criminal and cop meet face to face.
Scenes are often accompanied by vast empty backgrounds shaping the ever present baron LA landscape. These aspects of the film, coupled with a truly outstanding cast and backing soundtrack, have enabled Mann to reinvent the wheel when it comes to this particular film genre, but this is not a film you can categorise, it serves as a case study and outstanding example of filmmaking at its very best.
Film Facts!
The scene where a bank heist goes wrong was given an extra degree of realism and direction by Andy McNab (former SAS soldier). It was hailed by USA Today as ?the greatest action scene of recent times? and is now used as a training aid for soldiers.
Both actors who played the role of Red Dragon in Mann?s earlier work 'Manhunter' and in ?The Silence Of The Lambs? star in HEAT ? one as a forensics cop, the other as a wheelchair bound criminal consultant.
HEAT is still the only film to date to have been graced with the presence of two of the greatest actors of all-time (Pacino and De Niro). The Godfather II comes in at a close second with De Niro taking the role of a younger Don Corleone.
In the earlier version of the film (LA Takedown) Al Pacino and Robert De Niro's characters where played by virtual unknowns Scott Plank and Michael Rocker the film flopped and it was later removed from video shelves to make room for HEAT.
Film Recommendations: The Jericho Mile, Manhunter, The Keep, The Last of The Mohicans, Thief (AKA Violent Streets), Ali, Collateral, Miami Vice.
Review by John Anthony
tafflovessheep's review and ratings | 510 words
Review by
Bubabaah
on 21st Mar 2005
User Rating : 8
Respect :
0
Heat is a classic, it was always going to be once they cast Pacino and De Niro opposite one another and throw in Val Kilmer and Jon Voight, not to mention Dennis Haysbert (Palmer in 24) and Natalie Portman (Of Princess Amidala Fame). However, for me it wasn't quite up there with Goodfellas, Casino and Scarface. The crimes were as slick as Ocean's Eleven and the play-off between De Niro and Pacino is probably without equal. However, the action didn't quite get deep enough for me. There were a ...
Bubabaah's full review | 233 words
Review by
Hank
expert review
on 11th Feb 2005
User Rating : 10
Respect :
0
Heat is an absolutely tremendous film that I would strongly urge anyone with a taste for good cinema to go and see. Michael Mann directs what is a stunning and enthralling cat and mouse thriller. While the plot may win no points for originality - De Niro's crew eyeing up one last job with rabid cop Pacino vowing to bring them to justice - it is executed with such perfection that the fairly unoriginal scenario really doesn't matter.
The film starts with a stylish, but brutal robbery with a twi ...
Hank's full review | 437 words | 1 comment added.
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