Heat (1995)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Michael Mann

Writer (WGA):

Michael Mann (written by)

Release Date:

15 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A Los Angeles crime saga.

Plot:

A Los Angeles crime saga, "Heat" focuses on the lives of two men on opposite sides of the law - one a detective; the other a thief.

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Armored Car Robbery | Police | Robbery | Blood

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Lt. Vincent Hanna
Robert De Niro	...	Neil McCauley
Val Kilmer	...	Chris Shiherlis
Jon Voight	...	Nate
Tom Sizemore	...	Michael Cheritto
Diane Venora	...	Justine Hanna
Amy Brenneman	...	Eady
Ashley Judd	...	Charlene Shiherlis
Mykelti Williamson	...	Sergeant Drucker
Wes Studi	...	Detective Casals
Ted Levine	...	Bosko
Dennis Haysbert	...	Donald Breedan
William Fichtner	...	Roger Van Zant
Natalie Portman	...	Lauren Gustafson
Tom Noonan	...	Kelso

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and language.

Runtime:

171 min | USA:188 min (original pre-aired NBC version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:R(A) | Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #34160) | Belgium:16 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | UK:18 (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 (re-rating) (2005) | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

444 S. Flower Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Val Kilmer is playing a part originally played by Peter Dobson in L.A. Takedown (1989) (TV). Dobson also played Elvis Presley in Forrest Gump (1994), a role played by Kilmer in True Romance (1993).

Goofs:

Continuity: In the pitched gun battle scene immediately after the bank heist, Tom Sizemore's character (Michael Cheritto) is filmed running with sunglasses on while fleeing with a young girl he has taken as a hostage. Seconds after being being shot in the forehead with a high-powered rifle by Al Pacino's character (Lt. Vincent Hanna), Michael is shown lying dead still wearing sunglasses; a highly unlikely scenario given the firepower.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Construction Clerk: Check, charge, or cash?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in I Scream (2003)

Soundtrack:

Gringatoio Demento

One of the best films of the 90's

I am assuming I am commenting on this film for those who have not seen this film and for those people I pity you. Its a crime thriller. Won't describe the story as its not particularly original and not the best thing about this film. You've got Pacino and Deniro on screen in a film for the first and possibly last time which should be recommendation enough. Youv'e also got director Michael Mann at the top of his game. An awesome supporting cast firing on all cylinders. Arguably the best "shoot-out" in any film. What more do you want?

It's a long film but there is not one wasted scene in it. Even the incidental story lines - for example the recently paroled ex-cell mate of Deniro whose first job is in a "grill" working for a nasty exploitative boss and then ends-up as a stand-in getaway driver for Deniros crew. It just adds weight to the whole film. All the domestic dramas of the good-guys and the bad-guys that you wouldn't get in the typical cops and robbers film are shown in loving detail and nothing is rushed. Just makes it a more satisfying and involving film.

Mann who started his career on Miami Vice almost seems to be taking a trip back to the eighties with the soundtrack and styling of the film - almost but not quite.

If you still don't want to see the film after this then what the hells wrong with you?! Sit back and enjoy. Also - no. 247 in the top 250?? Whats up with that???