It’s time for nineties classic from director Michael Mann and starring two legendary actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. It’s recently had a Blu-ray upgrade to the picture quality, so should you purchase this new Blu-ray version? Let’s find out, so without further ado here’s my Heat Blu-ray review.
- Heat (1995)
- Genre: Action
- Directed by Michael Mann
- UK Rating 15
- Discs: 2
- Released By 20th Century Fox
- Blu-ray Released: 6 February 2017
- Stars: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Jon Voight,
Val Kilmer
Plot
Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is a career criminal who along with his crew specialises in armed heists. On his trail is LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), he is pretty sure who is carrying out these robberies but is always one step behind them. As the tension and action hits immeasurably heights it all looks to be heading for an epic showdown between the two.
Style / Direction
The film is written and directed by Michael Mann with the cinematography handled by Dante Spinotti.
Slick and stylishly delivered in a typically Michael Mann way. Heat simply looks breathtaking, the shots a perfectly set up and scenes whether set in the day or at night really do blow you away.
Mann really knows how create something really special in terms of the look or cinematography. Visually this is a masterpiece.
Music / Audio Effects
The music is provided by Elliot Goldenthal and perfectly suits the film in terms of tone and mood. The main theme is a kind of guitar sound that is simply beautiful increasing the emotion of any given situation in a haunting style.
Acting / Characters
Well it stars two of the best actors of all-time so you would hope they bring something exceptionally special to the table and boy oh boy do they.
Heat is the first time that De Niro and Pacino had acted together in a scene and it really was worth the wait. Their on screen chemistry makes that dinner scene one of the most talked about scenes in movie history.
Such is outstanding nature of both main characters I struggle to know which of the characters I’m rooting for.
The rest of the cast isn’t bad either with Val Kilmer playing Chris Shiherlis one Neil McCauley crew. He plays are rather messed up individual having lots of domestic problems and he is not prepared to lose his wife, Charlene (Ashley Judd).
Neil McCauley also finds himself entwined in a complicated relationship for the first time in his life when he meets Eady (Amy Brenneman).
Elsewhere we have many other top actors playing key roles such as Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore and a young Natalie Portman.
It is fair to say nobody lets the side down with all the actors putting in some career highs in terms of levels of acting. After all that is why Heat is considered by many myself included as a masterpiece in filmmaking.
Conclusion: Heat (1995) Film Review
If you have never seen Heat before or not for a while watching it on Blu-ray is simply a must for any film fan. Brilliant acting, a striking visual style and a compelling and exhilarating story make Heat a must see film.
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Conclusion: Heat Blu-ray Review
Put simply the sound and picture quality are outstanding. The picture is flawless not a single speck of dirt can be found anywhere. If only every film could have this level of attention I would be a very happy man.
Extras – Separate Bonus Disc
- Filmmakers Panels: 2016 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (63 mins) & 2015 Toronto International Film Festival (30 mins)
- The Making of Heat (3 Part Documentary) (59 mins)
- Pacino and De Niro The Conversation (10 mins)
- Return to the Scene of the Crime (12 mins)
- Deleted Scenes (10 mins)
- Trailers (7 mins)
If you love films starring Al Pacino or Robert De Niro then this is a must see set of extras.
The first panel is from 2016 and introduced and chaired by a great director Christopher Nolan and features Heat writer and director Michael Mann along with all the main cast members, De Niro, Pacino, Val Kilmer, Amy Brenneman, Diane Venora & Mykelti Williamson.
The making of provides the background and how the film is actually based on a real crew whom carried out many heists. Very interesting.
Pacino and De Niro the Conversation is a documentary in which the filmmakers and actors remember how that now iconic dinner scene happened.
Heat (1995) is available now on blu-ray priced £8.99 from Amazon (as of date of review)
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Popcorn Cinema Rating: Heat (1995)
MOVIE RATING: MUST SEE
BLU-RAY RATING: EXCELLENT
POPCORN CINEMA: RECOMMENDED
Heat (1995) Film Trailer
For those of you yet to see the film I’ll leave you with a little taster with the trailer…
Clip not be representative of the Blu-ray version
That’s my Heat blu-ray review, if you have any thoughts on this film leave them in the comment section below:
Summary: Heat (1995) Blu-ray Review
Movie title: Heat (1995)
Duration: 163 mins
Director(s): Michael Mann
Actor(s): Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd
Genre: Action
- Movie Rating
- Blu-ray Rating
- Extras
Summary
An exhilarating ride that has you torn between two of Hollywoods best actors
