JEFF'S MOVIE HALL OF FAME: CASE: 004 - HEAT (1995)

Written & Directed By: Michael Mann
Cinematography By: Dante Spinotti
Editor: Pasquale Buba, William Goldenberg, Dov Hoenig & Tom Rolff

CAST: Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Jon Voight, Tom Noonan, Kevin Gage, Ted Levine, Wes Studi, Mykelti Williamson, Ricky Harris, Tone Loc, Henry Rollins, William Fichtner, Amy Brenneman, Danny Trejo, Dennis Haysbert, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Mel Gorham, Diane Venora, Natalie Portman, Jeremy Piven, Xander Berkley, Hank Azaria, Bud Cort, Hazelle Goodman


I knew about it months before when it was filming because I was a weekly reader of THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Back when they used to be like PRODUCTION WEEKLY and would list all the films in production and there casts. So I knew who was in the cast I even knew that Johnny Depp and Keanu Reeves turned down the Val Kilmer role which would have made this film even more legendary. Not that Val Kilmer did a bad job he is just not as celebrated as Johnny Depp. But then again Don Johnson, Nick Nolte and Jeff Briges were considered for either Lead roles had Either Pacino or Deniro turned down there respective roles. Tom Sizemore was a replacement for Michael Madsen.

I remember when the trailers for this movie came out at my young age it was like sex to me or the closest I could get Two legendary actors in a crime film together on the screen and the trailer actually looked good, I couldn’t wait for the film to come out. So on opening night me and my mom braved the crowds and stood on line for a 11 o’clock show and what I saw on screen didn’t disappoint me at all. It wasn’t perfect but it was glorious afterwards it was like I was in a daze and over the years it has still kept my respect and admiration. it’s probably still my favorite Michael Mann film and most memorable. That I feel defines his style the most. Now him having been a producer and creator of MIAMI VICE. Cops and robbers tales are Mr. Mann’s Bread and butter.
After this film I immediately went out and bought the soundtrack which is all score by Elliot Golenthal, but over the years it has been indebted into my brain. It matches the deepness and the slickness of the film and the location it inhabits.


The Things I love about this film are numerous. Even though it is a loose remake of a previous TV-movie he had made back in 1989 named L.A. VENGENCE. Ever since 1983 the film had been written but Michael Mann said he never wanted to direct it. Then he made the TV Movie but was upset with the results and felt the story needed to be bigger and better. To pay respects to the cop who the film is based on. This film is amazing other then the fact that It stars Two acting heavyweights who are usually based in New York and placing them in Los Angeles.

They have many iconic roles behind them sharing the same screen (Years later they would do it again and share more scenes together but the product was not really worthy of each o there talents it was called RIGHTOEOUS KILL)

The Film is epic even though it takes place all inside of Los Angeles. It takes it’s time to give you a glimpse into each character involved in. The criminal crew but also the Police Department hunting them down. Especially Dennis Haysbert’s Sympathetic Getaway driver character. It’s a all star cast and many are on top of there games. Though Al Pacino is overacting in a lot of scenes it works in the film for his character and when he shares his one scene with DeNiro he up’s his game to remind you of how talented he is. Later in a interview he explained in a early draft of the script his character was supposed to have a cocaine habit which would explain his outbursts through out the film. But then it would also have blurred the line a little of the law and the criminal.

The film does take it’s time in many scenes To build up a tension as we basically watch the crew at first do a job and see how they work but then plan, Set-up and do another job while the cops slowly put the squeeze on them. The melodrama of there home lives are thrown in to give some depth. But it is all build up to the climactic bank robbery and shoot out through the streets after the job. You sit there and wait for it with baited breath but are never bored as you learn and experience more of the characters. So that when it does happen and some die it feels more personal to see those characters peril. When you see people you think you know do despicable actions it makes you really question yourself and what you knew about the character. The criminals are ruthless but not savages they don’t kill because they want to they do it only if they have to to protect themselves. Though it is interesting in one scene Tom Sizemore takes a child hostage to protect himself in a shoot out. Though earlier we see him play and show how much he loves and cares about his children.

The film Revels in painstaking detail all in’s and outs of the score and the set-up to it. Even most of the cop and criminal characters always look around when they speak to make sure there will be no surprises in there surroundings and to be ready if there is. There is really little action in the whole film really just a few scenes, but it feels action packed and exciting though it moves at a mid-range pace. Even in the aftermath of the bank robbery.

The score is top notch as this film is like a modern day urban western giving us insight into both sides of the law and showing the characters are similar they just each choose separate paths. But are human underneath it all Just look at the scene the cops walk into the warehouse side by side like a lawman posse. Some scenes feel almost like jazz scores as they have muted colors and the visuals match up with the score so perfectly that while there is no dialogue a lot is being said.

Many directors over the years have copied the style of this film none more notoriously then Christopher Nolan in the dark Knight that opening scene of the bank robbery is clearly inspired by this film. Plus most of the characters are dressed nicely in suits buttoned up like most of Christopher Nolan’s characters

Though it is long this is a film I can never get tired of watching after this film Michael Mann. Started Experimenting more with digital video instead of film I’m glad he filmed this in film as a sign of a end of the era and going out on a high note.

The film fits into the crime genre as a Classic at least to me.

Definitely a Addition to the film library.


GRADE: A+