A review by Mike Shea Movie Rating: ( * * * * * ) DVD Rating: ( * * * * · )
Heats main calling is the fact that it sticks my two favorite actors into the same movie. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are two giants when it comes to acting. Frankly I give De Niro a much higher rating since I havent been too blown back by Pacino in any of his later stuff. Most every character he has played is usually based off of Scarface (not that this is a bad thing, it is a powerful character!). Heats other calling is that it is a modern age gangster movie. The story revolves around a crew of rogues who are the best at what they do. They are as efficient as a swiss watch and as cold as they come. De Niros role is precise and calculating. Pacino is the cop whos life is falling apart because the people he spends his day chasing have none of his responsibilities. The movies prime scene is a coffee shop discussion between the main two characters. It is a wonderful example of how these two from such different worlds sit and tell each other what is what. Really powerful. Then the movie explodes into one of the best shootouts since the Wild Bunch. The action is very similar to the movie Ronin in the way it is so planned and executed. The DVD has a 2.35 to 1 16x9 enhanced picture and a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack which was a little hissy at points but still very well put together. There are no extras to bring up. Overall this is one of the best action crime films of this time, and the DVD is an excellent way to keep a hold of it.