Where there is Heat there Is always fire. I saw this film when he got released in 1996. I must say, it was the period where a lot of important films where made; such as Goodfellas (my personal favorite) Se7en, Usual Suspects, Underground, 12 Monkeys, etc, etc.And in this movie you got it all,this Michael Mann's brilliant epic film, gangsters, drama and romance, but nothing is pathetic or shallow. There is some somber, elegiac feeling throughout the film, intensified by great use of music, that future offers no hope for the main characters, neither for gangsters nor for the policeman (Vincent Hanna brilliantly played by Pacino), regardless of their plans or actions. Their destiny is sealed and they can do nothing about it. That is the same destiny that forces Carlito towards death in De Palma's "Carlito's Way" or Peckinpah's heroes towards suicidal bloodbath in "The Wild Bunch". As if the bare fact that they do possess some code of honour (they help each other during the relentless shoot-out on the streets, De Niro risks his potential happiness in order to revenge for treason) makes them more vulnerable and unadapted to living in a modern world, and pushes them towards the inevitable bitter end. Loneliness is the key word here. " I am alone, but not lonely " says De Niro in one scene, but we know that is not the truth, and he knows that too. Action scenes are perfectly made (especially the one after failed bank robbery), sound is crisp, use of music imaginative and photography (Dante Spinotti) brilliant. Sorry, no happy endings here, no special digital effects. Some lovers of pure entertainment might be disappointed, and think that film is a bit overlong, that it lacks action and is too dark. Well, this film certainly is not Hollywood mainstream production, nor it pretends to be a crowd-pleaser. To sum up: highly recommendable, too boring and sensible for average violence freaks, but a must for true cinema lovers.
This is the second best film of the nineties.

Its one of, if not my favorite film. Everything about it is just great.

Heat is boring because it has about an hour of pointless material. ALL scenes with the stepdaughter should have been left on the floor because they serve no purpose.

Anyway, where is Pulp Fiction when rating these 90's films?

Best film of the 90s: "Boogie Nights"

Everybody always raves about this film, but it just doesn't do it for me.
Maybe i was expecting too much because of the pacino/de niro first time in a scene thing.

lovemachine said:

ooops... How can i forget Pulp Fiction !!! (Rated #2 on YMDB www.ymdb.com " target="_blank"> www.ymdb.com ...
And Heat boring ...i guess you are the boring kind...

The Big Lebowski was better.

noepie said:

Folks have said that,but IMHOt the scene worked very well.a terific "stalemate" with both actors energy levels working very well off each other.

Heat is the shit..the meet up is understated and perfect!

I have to copy my past:
Man...--Michael Mann may have done cheesy Miami Vice (which was
actually a cool show) but this movie, Heat, is the shit-its like the mafia
movie of thief movies. Beautiful dialogue and great realistic situations
dealing with the home lives, professional lives, and law breaking lives of the
players . When Deniro and Pacino meet, its great. Sititng down having coffee
and each one is talking about their own lives on opposite sides of the law
and then breaking it down as to how each one is going to take one down and
dont get in their way. Love it! Ive read that the two Godfathers, father n
son finally meeting in a movie was a let down. Well there wasnt much fanfare
true, but its a nice movie and scene nevertheless. Thief by Mann was also
great-especially the music by Tangerine Dream. But Heat shows Pacino in one of
his best of last decade ( not too much scene chewing-a better performance
than Scent of A Woman imho) and an icy-cold Deniro at his best as well.
Another crime drama classic. Im glad I own this movie.

rdhull said: