“Heat”

Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer in “Heat” (Warner Bros., 1995)

One of the coolest cops and robbers movies ever filmed is “Heat” (Warner Bros., 1995). Al Pacino plays Lt. Vincent Hanna, a LAPD homicide detective who is putting the heat on a local crime ring run by Neil McCauley, played by Robert De Niro, that has been busy stealing money and killing witnesses and other people in their way. Under the expert hand and eye of writer and director Michael Mann, the film portrays the complexity of the battle between good and evil and the complexity of the people fighting it. The mesmerizing minimalist soundtrack by composer Elliott Goldenthal adds to the moodiness of this great film. Filmed throughout the Los Angeles area, modern life has never looked more bleak or more beautiful. Full of violence, gore and swear words, this film is definitely made for grown ups. Also stars Val Kilmer, Jon Voigt, Tom Sizemore, Natalie Portman, Ashley Judd, and Amy Brenneman. Written and directed by Michael Mann. “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.”