Heat (Remastered) [Blu-ray] [1995]

I've watched this gripping, fascinating movie a few times since its release, but recently decided I wanted to know more about how it was made, and so bought the two-disc DVD edition. The film itself is a masterpiece: an expertly-wrought portrayal of two men in conflict: Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), a tenacious, idiosyncratic police officer, and Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro), a smart, calculating thief. The story is ostensibly about Hanna's pursuit of McCauley and his gang following an armed robbery on the streets of LA, but the other components which have been added - including depictions of their women and private lives, their colleagues, the city and environments in which they work - make this a fully-realised, three-dimensional epic which repays repeated viewing. For example, I hadn't previously noticed the link between McCauley's dismissive response when Hanna asks him - in that justly celebrated face-to-face encounter over a cup of coffee in the middle of the chase - whether he'd ever wanted a normal life ("What the f*** is that? Barbecues and ballgames?") and the moment in their next meeting in the parking lot of a downtown supermarket when McCauley's shooting at Hanna, but hits... barbecues (amongst a lot of other things). In addition, there's the pleasure of watching great actors (which includes a very strong supporting cast, featuring Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Kevin Gage, Hank Azaria, Dennis Haysbert and others) making their craft appear effortless. In particular, Pacino plays Hanna as a man apparently (or pretending to be) just on the edge, especially in interrogation scenes: there's a classic moment when he does something unexpected when talking to Hank Azaria's character, and Azaria's look of unsettled astonishment is totally genuine. De Niro's reading of McCauley is someone who doesn't want to be recognized or remembered, but who's surprised to find himself making an emotional connection with the innocent Eady (Amy Brenneman). And then there are the intensely realistic action set-pieces - especially the bank heist with the unforgettable sound of gunshots echoing off the sides of the crystal canyons of downtown LA - which make everything else you've ever seen in this genre appear stale or derivative. The extras on this set include a detailed audio commentary film track from director Michael Mann, three trailers, an hour-long documentary about the making of the film, and two short features about the Pacino / De Niro coffee scene and the scouting of locations for the film. They provide a lot of entertaining and interesting detail about how the film came to be and how it was made, so if you're as much a fan as I am, it's a recommended purchase.

Although Manhunter is my favourite Michael Mann film, Heat is a far more polished exercise in movie making. Stylish, well photographed and fast-paced, but with elements of slower, more thoughtful action. You can often feel more empathy with the villain than the hunter at times. Despite their limited screen time together, you'd feel that Pacino and De Niro had been action opposite each other for years, even though this was their first joint effort as far as shared screen-time goes (they were never together in Godfather II). Val Kilmer receives a lot of heat (pun intended) for his performance, but I feel that is unjustified as his character isn't fleshed out enough, possibly deliberately so as not to detract from the two main stars' roles. The primary extra (along with Mann's commentary) is a hour-ling making of documentary. It's interesting but not an essential watch in my opinion. The picture quality is (as you'd hope) a big step up from my old VHS copy, which I'd never replaced with a DVD. All in all, a very enjoyable watch which should lead to repeat viewings for most people.

Heat is a gigantic film, with a powerful and very complex and fine drama unfolding through a story that takes its time to put us in the plot and in characters' personality and through a directing style where the care for details, the ability to work on intimate atmosphere, night views of the cold city and thrilling, glorious action scenes, is conducted and realized to such a level that leaves you speechless. Even the confrontation between the 2 stars is wisely postponed up to almost the end, in order not to let the glamour shadow the characters and tragedy of the story, and to increase the expectation of the viewers for that great moment while letting them follow and focus on what happens before that scene. Others would have played just with those 2 big names, but Mann shows a maverick courage not to second that temptation. Cinematographically the film is great, and maybe it would deserve a better blu ray, that is still quite good anyway

Super-Actionfilm! Absoluter Kult! Geniale Besetzung. Gehört in jede Sammlung!

Slechte beeld te donker. Normale blu ray is betee, miskoop

Fantastic movie. Realistic tactical response methods.

Chef d’œuvre et rencontre d’anthologie entre 2 monstres sacrés du cinéma Américain

A big thanks to HeavenlyHeroes!!! For getting this version of HEAT to India!!! Have been longing to buy this since a year!!! The packaging was well done considering the transit time. If you are searching for exclusive list of Blu-ray movies then HeavenlyHeroes is the point of contact!! Endorse and encourage physical media !!!