Heat

Rating:
Summary: one of the finest BFI Modern Classics book series!
Review: For such a highly regarded filmmaker, so little has been written about Michael Mann's films in book form. This is a solid look at one of his most popular films. Not so much an anecdotal account (unfortunately), rather a more analytically approach to HEAT. James makes some very insightful observations on the movie and how it fits into Mann's overall body of work. For example, he points out how James Caan's character in THIEF truly embodies HEAT's famous philosophy (do not have anything you can't walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you see the heat coming...) much more successfully than De Niro's character.

While I would have enjoyed more behind-the-scenes stories and information, this is a well-written book that always has something interesting to say. James is clearly a fan of the film and of Mann's but isn't afraid of being critical -- this isn't a fan boy's love letter. His book is definitely required reading for any fan of HEAT or Mann's movies in general. BFI's Modern Classics series comes through again.