Heat

A thrilling film where I didn’t mind the excessive runtime. De Niro and Al Pacino are reunited in a movie after a long time and it's worth it. A brilliant mix of action and a kind of subtly psychological portrait of two standing on the opposite side of the law, but who have respect for each other and something in common. Some passages are based on real events, e.g. the pivotal scene of DeNiro and Pacino's conversation in the restaurant actually happened. Heat is one of the best films of the 1990s. (11.05.2003)

Dolles Ding. Ein famoses Drehbuch, welches Gut und Böse nicht trennt. Gegner bringen hier einander das größte Verständnis hervor, und der Zuschauer muss nicht unbedingt Stellung zu Moral und unvereinbaren Prinzipien einnehmen. Zwei dämonische Ausgestoßene, die sich voll und ganz ihrer Mission verpflichtet haben. Und rein zufällig richten sie ihre Waffen auf sich. Mann treibt den Film dank seiner präzisen Regie voran, die ein unglaublich packendes Tempo und Timing an dramatischen Höhepunkten hat. Letzte Szene: minimalistisch, brillant. Präzise abgestimmter Soundtrack. Eine bis ins geringfügigste Detail ausgefeilte Besetzung und gut eingestimmte schauspielerische Leistungen. Alles passt, die Action, Psychologie, der Handlungsstrang auch. Wenn denn ein gutes Krimidrama überhaupt irgendwie aussehen soll, dann eben so. (26.08.2008)

A discreet action crime film that delves into the psyche of the characters down to the smallest detail, giving strong meaning to even the smallest scene and allowing tension to reach an unbelievable level. And who to root for? With an insistent shiver down my spine, perhaps both. The moment when Neil sees Vincent approaching on the sidewalk is a bomb that had me trembling with anticipation throughout the second half. Heat is the first open victory of Mann's civilian form and the enduring sense of immediate interaction with the plot. I have anxiety within me. I hold it here to stay sharp and alert. I need that. (07.02.2006)

Very decent, significantly above-average action crime film, which narrowly missed out on five stars. Charismatic characters, thrilling story with intense scenes and unexpected twists, excellent cast led by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro and corresponding performances. Unlike many genre-related films, Heat stands out with a decent script that reveals and develops the psychology of its characters. The wild shootout during the bank heist is a premature climax of the film. What bothered me was the ending, where the experienced gang leader McCauley makes a rookie mistake completely contrary to the thinking and actions of his character. Overall impression: 85%. (17.08.2008)

Michael Mann wrote and directed something I’ve been wanting to see for a long time. He showed us precisely the line separating good and evil and the entire movie balances on that thin line. It isn’t clear for a long time who is good. Is anybody? Or is everybody good in their own way? Al Pacino certainly doesn’t come across as a positive hero and the same goes for De Niro. Even so, you find yourself crossing your fingers for them and the ending is incredibly nerve racking. Plus the action and mainly the big shootout is so wonderfully raw that your eyes are glued to the screen. If he manages to pull off something like it with Miami Vice, it’ll be Christmas in the summertime for me. (20.06.2006)

Heat, das sind drei Stunden voller Genrevergnügen. Dem Stoff sieht man sein Alter an, Manns Originaldrehbuch stammt aus dem Jahr 1979 und die Ereignisse, die ihn inspiriert haben, sind natürlich noch älter. Das erste Projekt sollte sogar eine Serie werden, die beim Pilotfilm blieb – Showdown in L.A.. Trotz des 90er-Jahre-Looks ist der Film immer noch eine erstklassige schauspielerische Leistung von Al Pacino und Robert De Niro. Und auch die Nebenrollen sind solide Leistungen, vor allem Kilmer/Judd und die junge Portman. Heat hat einige Höhepunkte, mit einer üppigen Schießerei, die nach zwei Stunden als Höhepunkt des ersten Akts kommt, und dann, seltsamerweise, passen eine sehr gut geschriebene Romanze und ein Familiendrama mit einem antiken Ausmaß in den zweiten Akt. Ein erstaunlich solides Erlebnis. (01.04.2024)

Two charismatic men, nighttime neon LA, masterful direction, perfect style, unrivaled action, and unique directorial maturity. We all have our favorites and this is mine. Perfection in every detail. (23.12.2003)

I needed a second screening to fully discover the genius and filmmaking level of this masterpiece by Mann. Now I know where to look for the tip of the iceberg, which in this case is a metaphor for all crime films, and to what height Heat rises above all others. Together with The Godfather and The Fugitive, it’s the most intense experience in the genre, and for me personally, in cinema as such. Long after the end, you can still feel on your own skin the incredible atmosphere of the second half, which will forever be written in golden letters in the history of cinema – every scene heightens the tension and the emotions, every look of the excellent actors is worth a thousand words. The action scenes are incredibly realistic and impressive, and the famous shootout in the city streets is probably the best ever on screen. The script is well thought out and unreadable, just as it should be, and I've never seen such a brilliant acting duo as the one Pacino and De Niro have created here as two sworn enemies that respect each other; their amazing performances complete what Mann wouldn’t have been able to do on his own, and most importantly, the two of them bring the film to the unwavering top. They, and the developed psychology of all the other characters, admittedly stretch the runtime quite a bit, but without that the story could never have achieved such power and brought even the toughest action fan to tears with the final shot. Now I also know another thing I can be a little proud of: I was born the year Heat was made. (15.09.2011)

When you put Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in one movie, it is essentially impossible for such a combination not to work. Both of them are actors par excellence, as they prove with this film, which allows them to excel both in action and in acting. Michael Mann directed a film that has drive, even though it lasts three hours, and it also has interesting characters on all fronts. (17.03.2016)