The movie is your usual cop-chases-criminal narrative. Al Pacino plays lieutenant Vincent Hanna, who decides to chase after Neil McCauley (played by Robert De Niro, a criminal who wants to pull off one last score before he retires for good.
Robert De Niro is quite possibly the best part of the film. The way he portrays Neil McCauley is so believable, having us rooting for him the entire film. And this is not just Robert's contribution, credits have to be given to the Michael Mann as well, for moulding such an exquisite character.
In contrast, Al Pacino's Vincent Hanna is just... he's just stupid. Quasi-arrogant, the character doesn't have any redeeming traits to nullify the conspicuous lack of characterization. There is one scene where there is an info-dump, where Neil learns about Vincent. But since it's narrated by a third-party and not by Vincent himself, it lacks depth.
Another consequence of the differing characterization is that it becomes difficult for the viewer to discern what this movie is about. It fails to establish itself in the first act. Is this a movie about a criminal trying to escape his life and find love? Or is this about a hellbent officer on a mission to put a criminal behind bars? We don't find out till the end. Yet, what I think might be different from what others think. There is a level of ambiguity which I feel should be avoided.
On the bright side, the plot isn't your average subpar garbage. It's what I like the most: many complex subplots welded onto the main narrative. Yet, the subplots don't take your mind away from what really matters.
The world building is something I like a lot. There aren't any exposition-heavy dialogues. Everything in Los Angeles is ubiquitous. And the dialogue...
"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"
The love I have for this quote. Unexplainable.
The ending scene shows the power of amazing direction. Amazing movement, transitions and music makes that ending one to be remembered. It's bound to keep you at the edge of your seat, while your heartbeat surges.
With just some minor inaccuracies, Heat directed by Michael Manm starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and others is one of the greatest flicks of the '90s, and something that will be remembered for a long time. The film, 27 years later, still hasn't lost the heat!
Rating: ★★★★☆
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-Dharshun Kannan
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