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As you probably know from the hype, this is the first film to feature Pacino and De Niro in the same scene. It's also been hyped as a bit of a shoot em up. Don't be fooled by this though - although there is possibly the most awesome shooting scene in recent times (not including Desperado) this film is about the lives of the two main characters who remain apart for most of the film.
De Niro is the cool, calculating robber in a handsomely understated role. Along with his close team of fellow crooks (including Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore) they only go for the biggest hits. Pacino is the cop with problems, struggling to reconcile his job with his girlfriend. They are thrown together when a simple armored car heist goes wrong and leads to murder, and betrayal.
De Niro's philosophy is "never own anything that you can't walk away from in 30 seconds when the heat comes looking for you" (probably badly quoted) but, when he falls for a shy, bookshop worker, his life changes dramatically. He wants out, but Kilmer needs the money from one last hit and Sizemore can't live without the thrill doing it so, reluctantly, De Niro and co. organise one last huge bank job which, naturally enough, goes horribly wrong.
This film is excellent and both De Niro and Pacino act superbly in different ways. However there are improvements that could have been made to this film. For instance, was there really any need to introduce the prostitute's death into the plot as it really did nothing to explain the character of Wayne Grew. The inclusion of Natalie Portman in a small but important role as Pacino's girlfriends's suicidal daughter is necessary but perhaps some of the other minor characters could have been chopped. Admittedly it is the skill in which Mann takes characters and builds them up that is the reason for seeing this film, but, if so, why are some of the female characters so flat and stereotypical.
Having said all this Heat does boast a good soundtrack, exquisite choreography of action scenes, superb acting and those little scenes of calm which are sadly lacking in most action films. Overall Heat is a must-see film just now but will it stand the test of time and become a classic?
Neil P. Chue Hong.
npch@tardis.ed.ac.uk
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