Heat: Mann’s Magnum Opus

A review by Jack Watkinson

Michael Mann made his directing début with the thriller classic Thief in 1981 to high acclaim, it was a simple film but it was the perfect vehicle for Mann to make his name in the film world. It was highly regarded by many and James Caan lent his name to the film which helped propel it to the top. It is very difficult for a new director to get noticed in the entertainment industry and often their first production receives mixed reviews, this isn’t true of all new- comers of course but for many it takes some time before they receive some recognition. Michael Mann had a smash hit as his very first production, the future was bright indeed for Mann.

He followed his first production with The Keep in 1983, but Mann struck out with the reviewers on this occasion. Mann didn’t let The Keep ruin his dream of making a name for himself however, he decided to get to work on another project. Dino De Laurentiis had gained the rights to adapt Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon novel and tasked Mann with bringing the novel to the big screen. The subsequent film, Manhunter, came out in 1986 to much critical acclaim.

In 1992 The Last of the Mohicans was shown on cinemas screens and was yet another Mann film that received great praise from the critics.

In 1995 Mann was well respected and at this point was ready to take on a much bigger production, Warner Brothers was keen to bring Mann aboard upon hearing that Mann was interested in doing another film. Mann pitched a crime thriller to WB and they gave him the green light, impressed with the previous crime thriller, Thief, and commissioned this new piece called Heat.

Mann originally came up with the idea based on a real life story about a Chicago detective by the name of Chuck Anderson and his pursuit of a criminal named Neil McCauley. McCauley was a convict that used to reside in Alcatraz prison before being transferred to McNeil prison in 1961. McCauley was released a year later and immediately got to work on his next hit. Det. Anderson began investigating McCauley at the same time. Some time during 1962 Det. Anderson and McCauley sat down and had coffee together in a diner (a scene replicated in the film).

In 1964 McCauley and his crew of 3 others followed an armoured car until it made its drop off at a store, as soon as the armoured car had made its delivery McCauley and his crew raided the store and stole $10000 in cash. While attempting to make their get away the police, whom had been tipped off, sprung a trap on McCauley and engaged them in a gunfight. One of McCauley’s crew managed to fight his way out and escape, McCauley and 2 others were killed in the fire fight.

Mann had a story and a script together and all he needed to make a start was assemble a cast, Mann wanted some big names to get involved and WB brought in Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer to get involved.

In this adaptation Al Pacino plays Lt. Vincent Hanna (largely based on Det. Anderson). Lt. Hanna is on the trail of a highly trained and well organised team of criminals led by none other than Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro).

The film begins with a monorail train coming a station at night, McCauley makes his way off the train dressed as a paramedic and makes his way to a nearby hospital. None of the hospital staff seem to notice McCauley and he is able to steal an ambulance. The next morning Michael Cheritto (Tom Sizemore) one of McCauley’s regular team picks up a new hire, Waingro (Kevin Gage) in a large truck. Cheritto radios McCauley and another team member Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) to inform them that he and Waingro are on their way.

It becomes apparent that McCauley’s crew have planned a heist on an armoured car, however during the robbery Waingro disobeys orders and kills one of the security team.

McCauley realises that he and his team are running out of time before the police show up and that if they let the other two security team live then they may be witnesses. McCauley authorises his crew to eliminate the last two security members before making their getaway.

The crew meet up later at a diner and elect to eliminate Waingro but are interrupted by the police and Waingro escapes. The next day McCauley meets with a fence named Nate ( Jon Voight) whom informs him that the barer bonds stolen in the previous day’s events belong to a bent banker in the caymen islands, Roger Van Zant (William Fichtner). McCauley arranges to sell the bonds back to Van Zant, however Van Zant attempts to double- cross McCauley. McCauley and his crew eliminate Van Zants team. McCauley calls Van Zant and informs him that he is a dead man. Lt. Hanna (Al Pacino), who investigated the armoured car robbery, is starting to put the pieces together and puts a task force together to keep tabs on McCauley and his crew.

Lt. Hanna conducts a night operation observing McCauley attempt another heist, but McCauley gets spooked when a police officer leans against a truck making a audible noise. McCauley and his crew leave, frustrating Hanna.

A few days pass and Hanna is alerted that McCauley is travelling along a highway, Hanna meets him and offers to buy McCauley coffee, McCauley agrees and they travel to a nearby diner to discuss their work and go their separate ways. The next day McCauley and his crew conduct a bank robbery, but Hanna has been tipped off and he and the Chicago police department ambush McCauley as they try to escape. In the ensuing shoot-out and chaos it is not clear if McCauley will make it out alive…

The film definitely has a Michael Mann feel to it, if you’ve ever seen a Mann film you’ll know what I mean but for the uninitiated when I say it has the Mann feel I mean that the lighting and soundtrack is dynamic, the lighting reflects the mood perfectly and the soundtrack is well chosen, Matthias Gohl created most of the tracks but Elliot Goldenthal composed the main score. The sound design is something rather unique, a lot of action films have some energetic music and generic gun sounds when the action starts, Mann opts for a different approach using realistic weapon sounds and a soundtrack that doesn’t overwhelm the action. The shoot-out after the bank robbery is so realistic that the United States Marine Corps use it as part of their training for fighting in urban areas. The actors underwent significant weapons handling and manoeuvring training to make sure everything was as authentic as possible. The effort put into the film is clear and its all the better for it.

The acting is first class which is to be expected when you consider the line up, all of the cast had back stories written for them by Mann to really get them into character. The background material included favourite food, places the characters had lived previously, even what kind of music they liked.

Heat is not your ordinary crime film, its tense all the way and you start rooting for the bad guys which is odd considering the genre. The action is perfectly coordinated and well executed and keeps the viewer engaged all the way. I was torn while watching this film, I didn’t know who to support, I grew attached to the bad guys and Lt. Hanna. When things start to heat up its adrenaline pumping. The film has a very satisfying end.

If you have never tried a Michael Mann film then Heat is a perfect film to start with, it is one of my favourite films and ive no doubt that if you like thrillers or crime films then you’ll love it too.