Heat

Rating:
Summary: Poor
Review: Michael Mann's glazed cinematograpy and MTV look worked in "Miami Vice", since it was a TV show. But it doesn't work in films (nor did it work for "The Insider" nor "Thief" nor "Manhunter" either). And, aside from the approach made on this movie, the plot itself is pretty patchy. DeNiro gives a good subtle performance, which makes me ask, What happened to Pacino? He is so over-the-top in his acting now! In "Godfather" I and II he gave such subtle, understated performances, they were among the best in film history. Now he is gruff and shouts all the time, like he has lost his hearing and thinks he needs to speak louder than he does. There is no nuance whatsoever to this, nor his other latest perfomances. Didn't he watch DeNiro act on this film, and think to tone his own acting down? Apparently not....This movie isn't terrible, but it ain't that great either.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Acting
Review: You may need to watch this movie twice before you get a sense of how lucky you are to witness such fine acting - all in one movie! Pacino and DeNiro are at their best in the restaurant scene - just the two of them. When you think of the magnitude of their presence, it should send shivers down your spine. A truly great film and one that deserved better attention from the Academy.

Rating:
Summary: I Liked This Movie, But...
Review: My son-in-law talked me into watching this movie, and I must admit that it's quite good. De Niro is at his best as a meticulous if not obsessed criminal, and Pacino is his usual excellent self as an equally obsessed law enforcement officer. The supporting cast, including Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, and Tom Sizemore all turn in good performances. Amy Brenneman was somewhat underutilized, and her rather insignificant part in this movie made me wonder why she was even cast in the first place.

One only needs to spend a few minutes with this movie to know that it's a Michael Mann production. The visuals, attention to detail, the pacing, and music are all trademarks of Mann's. The plot, unfortunately, is somewhat derivative of one of Mann's earlier movies, the excellent and underrated "Thief", starring James Caan, Jim Belushi, and Willie Nelson.

Overall, this is a very good movie that could have been greater with a more beefed-up plot.

Rating:
Summary: BEST FILM OF 1995
Review: Outstanding, intelligent action-drama flick finds Pacino and De Niro squaring off against each other in a game of cat-and-mouse. Entire supporting cast is brilliant. Extremely well-developed characters by writer/director Mann. Soundtrack is also spectacular. Widescreen anamorphic DVD is great, but is lacking in features. Still worth the purchase.

Rating:
Summary: Sheer Excellence!
Review: Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro...two of my favorite actors in one of the greatest movies in the nineties! It was a nice change to see a cop flick where I felt sympathy for both sides of the law! A refreshing break from all of those other cookie cutter cop movies! And the supporting actors ( Jon Voight, Val Kilmer, Tom Siezmore) were wonderful in thier roles! *notice that I left off Ashley Judd* This is one powerful movie for anybody who felt that there was one too many "Dirty Harry" type pictures.

Rating:
Summary: Why not any major nominations?
Review: I'd like to start this review by stating that, in my opinion, Al Pacino should have received another acting nomination in 1995 for his performance in this movie. Additionally, this movie should have been at least nominated for Best Picture and Best Director. However, having said that, I can rest safe in the knowledge that the Academy made their mistake. This is a truly great film, and I never tire of seeing it. The performances are all dead-on (especially Pacino's), the action is first-rate, and the cinematic style is truly unique. Cinematographer Dante Spinotti captures a vision of Los Angeles, both by day and by night, that is nothing short of mesmerizing.

One curious thing about the movie is its willingness to explore the relationships of its characters. If it's constant action you're looking for, go somewhere else. This movie is about crime, the people who fight it, and the relationships destroyed by it. It is told in a flashy style that probably kept Academy voters away, but what do they know?

Here's a tip: set aside 3 hours, sit back, and absorb this film. It's one of the best movies of the 1990s.

Rating:
Summary: Heat is "HOT!"
Review: Heat was my first DVD purchase and I couldn't be more pleased. At the risk of repeating what other reviewers have already said, let me say this is a great movie. The performances by De Niro, Pacino, Kilmer and Sizemore are outstanding. This movie also has all the glitter I've come to expect from a Michael Mann film. The DVD format puts you in the middle of the action. Heat is "HOT!"

Rating:
Summary: Intensity!
Review: This is a review coming from a woman who usually doesn't get into violence. I saw Heat for the first time in the theater with a bunch of college girlfriends. We were all hunched over in the edge of our seats for the whole movie. After you see this movie you will breathe a sigh of relief, it is so intense. Also, the writing in some parts is so smart and catchy, that I find myself quoting it - something I never do. My favorite line is "I told you when we hooked up, baby, that you were going to have to share me." Of course, all the actor's great deliveries count too.

I don't like violence in a movie just for the sake of sales. This movie uses violence to teach a lesson. I very rarely have long periods of questioning and thought after movies, but this was the exception. Even the sub-plots were thought provoking. Mostly, this movie made me realize that everyone is human. Everyone just plays their part.

I don't know if I liked Pacino or Deniro's character better. I'd never thought much about the hard life of a criminal, and the emotions involved, so I leaned towards rooting for Deniro.

Some interesting things that I noticed or had pointed out to me after many viewings are: the voice and lips are off for albert when Paccino visits him in his stolen-porsche factory. Also, what was up with Kilmer's elbow when Deniro comes home to his beach house in the morning?

The only thing that dissapointed me, but again made me think was a decision that Deniro made that led to his downfall at the end of the movie. I felt that he was to smart to not take his out, but he fell for the bait. Maybe that was supposed to be a lesson too.

Rating:
Summary: Deniro and Pacino explode on the screen
Review: This is one of my favorite movies with DeNiro in it. Out of all the reviews that I have written this one has to be the easiest one for me. The story is everything in this movie. It is about a very intellegent cop like the worlds finest (Pacino) and A super criminal genious that is one of the smartest guys in the world. Right there it tells you that this movie is going to be one of the best ever made. The street gunfight will never be made like that again. For those of you who have seen the movie you would know what I am talking about.

Rating:
Summary: good movie, great acting!
Review: This movie's got some extraordinary scenes ( remember the bank robbing, the street get away scene or the Hannah-mcCauley first and only meeting in the movie?), but what makes it a great movie is these two guys ,de Niro and Pacino; imagine for an instant this two characters played by, let's say, Bruce Willis and Schwarzie-would you still love it so much? I hope this two great actors will have the chance to make another movie together in the future!