HEAT

US, 1996, 172 minutes, Colour.
Al Pacino, Robert de Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd.
Directed by Michael Mann.

When it is good, it is very good, but there are some flat patches in this very long police thriller. Technically, it is state of the art movie-making by Michael Mann (Last of the Mohicans and creator of Miami Vice), big-screen action, individuals larger than life and thundering action (especially a semi-automatic shootout in downtown LA which, on reflection is rather appalling).

The stars are larger than life, Al Pacino giving a sometimes literally booming performance as a stressed and obsessive police officer and Robert de Niro, sometimes ingratiating as a hardened criminal. Val Kilmer (forgetting Batman) is convincing as ruthless thug. The screenplay gives a human side to its characters which works well, with Diane Venora as Pacino's wife.

A strong action show with human touches, but alarming as well. Top stars, strong action.

1.The critical acclaim? The work of Michael Mann as film and television director and producer? Los Angeles police thriller? Action thriller? Psychological thriller?

2.The Panavision photography, Los Angeles settings, the city, the streets, the homes, the airport? The musical score?

3.The staging of the action set pieces: the bank robberies, the chases, the shootout in the middle of the streets, the airport finale?

4.The title and its focus, atmosphere?

5.The interaction between Robert de Niro and Al Pacino? Each being able to play the other part? The type of characters they personified? The law, the criminal, the various codes? The irony that they met only in one sequence during the film at the restaurant before the final climax?

6.Al Pacino and his intensity as Vince: his dedication to his work, total commitment, his detection skills? The erratic and irascible character? The background of his marriages? His stepdaughter and her tensions, his ability to relate to her? But her reliance on him and his absences? His wife and his keeping her out of his work? Not confiding, the reasons given? The contrast with his work at the police precinct, his team, collaboration? The erratic life of the detective?

7.Vince's wife, the quality of the marriage? Her strength of character, weaknesses? Drugs? The brittle relationship with her daughter? Her lifestyle, loneliness? Cooking the dinner and Vince's arriving home late? The ability and inability to talk? The marriage and personality problems? Her anger? Her having an affair, Vince's reaction? Her motivations, trying to get his attention? The daughter and the suicide attempt, the hospital? Discussions with Vince - a possibility of reconciliation?

8.Vince's stepdaughter, her age, adolescence, waiting for her father and desperate for him, becoming more and more neurotic with his absence? Vince and his support, driving her to school? The possibility of her trusting him? The suicide attempt, Vince taking her to hospital, his care for her?

9.Themes of work, family, pressures? The other members of the team, their personalities, skills, collaboration?

10.The contrast with Robert de Niro as Neil? Personality type, his background? His quiet manner? His criminal skills? His connections? His relationship with the mastermind dealer and the supplying of information? The building up of his team, their clockwork precision in action, his ruthless treatment of them - even to execution? His personal life, meeting the woman at the bar, talking to her, relating - passionately? The division between his two worlds? His needs, not telling her the truth? The danger? Her gradually seeing what his life was like, her loyalty to him? His interest in her life, her work? The quality of their relationship and his hopes from it?

11.Neil and his going into action, the skills and the timing, the trucks, the shooting? Loose Fingers and the naming for the police? Escape?

12.Giving information to the police, names, connections, following?

13.The older mastermind and information-giver? John Voight and his style and manner? Setting up the deals, the contacts, helping with the final escape?

14.The plan, the team, the execution of the robbery, the pursuit of the police, the shootouts in the Los Angeles streets, the danger? Neil's detachment and involvement - the deaths?

15.Vince and his following the leads, working with his team, following Neil - and their being led on and tricked by Neil? Neil on the top of the building and looking down at them?

16.Chris and his wife, his gambling habit, his needs? The child? His ruthlessness and brutality in action? Character, truth and lies, his affluent lifestyle? Participation in the action? Relationship with Neil? His being wounded, going to the hospital, the vigil with his wife, the police and the offer of protection, the deal? The car and his being identified? His refusal, the escape? The character of his wife, her love for Chris? Her place in the deal, the phone call, giving him the sign at the window and allowing him to escape?

17.The gangs and their styles, the bonds, life and death? The businessman and his associates, the job, the swindle? His fear, the home attack and his death?

18.Themes of violence in American society, the gangs and violent robbery, deaths? The relationship between brutality and sexuality? The minor gang members as thugs, their sexual violence and brutality? The information given to the police and their pursuit?

19.Neil and the build-up to the climax, his girlfriend, the escape? The discovery of the man who betrayed them? His going to pursue him in the hotel? The irony of Vince at the hospital with his stepdaughter and her suicide attempt? Neil having time, eluding the guards, killing the informer? The build-up to the confrontation between the two men, the spectacular chases through the airport, their first meeting and discussion in the restaurant and toying with each other? The final violent confrontation and Neil's death?

20.The tradition of the American action thriller, the police thriller? Urban concerns and violence? Personalities caught up on both sides of the law? Codes? Audiences caught up in the act ion - but also offered understanding?