I always thought he was essentially mocking him with what they heard over the wire tap to let him know, just how much of his conversations they've heard.
Also, removed in the edit was how Pacino had a bad coke habit.
Which, I think they were like "So your character, he does a bump or two before every single scene" and Pacino was like "A bump or two? Aha, okay, I'll tone it down then."
Genuinely one of the greatest one on one conversation scenes in all of film history. (Key phrase: "one of".)
There are so many layers to it, what's not being said, the dual threat and respect, the subtle movements by each character. And on top of that, it was decades of Hollywood history in the making by finally getting De Niro and Pacino in the same scene.
It's one of those movies that truly stands the test of time. And this scene is one of the reasons.
People often meme the wild over the top scenes Pacino does in Heat, but there are some truly amazing quiet moments where he really lets you see the character's heart.
The few coked out moments are what make the highlight reels, but most of the movie he's pretty subdued, very tender, methodical, and at times terrifying with how calculated he is.
His scenes with his struggling relationship and everything with his step-daughter (a very young Natalie Portman!) are incredible.
It is one of the best performances in the decade and he wasn't even nominated.
Sidenote: Looking back on its cultural impact, it's insane that it wasn't nominated for any of the major ceremonies. Not even Best Sound, and it has gone down as one of the greatest uses of sound recording and editing in film history; it's the gold standard on sound editing... Wasn't even nominated.
"Oh, I see, what I should do is, er, come home and say "Hi honey! Guess what? I walked into this house today, where this junkie asshole just fried his baby in a microwave, because it was crying too loud. So let me share that with you. Come on, let's share that, and in sharing it, we'll somehow, er, cathartically dispel all that heinous shit". Right?"
I know where people want to go with this, and it's: Right movie, wrong scene. The basement scene is actually the best ever over the opening farmhouse scene.
Still incredible that a movie can be mentioned among the best use of dialogue in a single scene, and you have to specify "Which one?"
It’s such an honest exchange between two people that for a brief moment feels understood by someone. One’s personal life is falling apart and the other is so isolated.
It’s what makes it so great and tragic. In another timeline Neil and Hanna could have been friends.
It's fantastic because earlier, Neil learns about Hanna. So when Hanna describes his personal life being a disaster zone, Neil knows he's being honest, as opposed to just making things up to play him.
Yeah, I'm gonna go with Saving Private Ryan as his second greatest acting job of his entire career as well. He was good in Heat, but he's a key piece in making Saving Private Ryan so amazing.
Obviously his best role ever was in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
"I got cash in my pocket, I got desire in my heart. I'mm'a frothing and foaming, and I was thinking, hey I got an idea. What do you say we slip into a room and you two split me open... like a coconut?"
I love how revered it’s gotten over time, it’s become so influential in its genre. Superbly written, top tier ensemble cast, soundtrack and sound design. I don’t know how else to describe it but the atmosphere is just amazing. Have always thought Michael Mann always nails the music and sound in his film.
If only they could fix the awful dialogue with Waingro and the young black prostitute. The attempt at ‘jive talking’ sticks out like a sore thumb in a near-perfect movie.
I think they needed to make sure that both Hanna and McCauley are viewed as morally gray characters who, despite their flaws, are not "inherently" evil.
We see that with McCauley from his reaction after the first heist but having that scene is what involves Hanna with the girl's murder and I personally feel it's a (cheap?) way to remind the audience and tell us, "See that guy? Both the cop and the robber hate his guts".
This is a great question — it’s like the precise opposite of a tragic flaw. Maybe you can name it! I like Cigart flaw… maybe Pandoric flaw or Adamic flaw would work?
It's one of my favorite Romeo and Juliet adaptations. How DeNiro and Pacino are perfect for each other but torn apart by their past choices... absolute cinema!
As always, putting in a plug to read Heat 2 or get that audiobook. The knowledge of the characters in the movie paints such an amazing picture in your mind of all these folks and how they think.
A guy told me one time - don't let yourself get attached to anything that you are not willing to walk out in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner
Mann's contemporary crime thrillers always seem to perfectly encapsulate the decade they're set in. Thief, Manhunter, Heat, Collateral, Miami Vice, Blackhat. Really wish he'd do one for the 2020s.
I never found it sad. He gave the go ahead to kill the other guards after Waingro needlessly killed one. And he spearheaded a bank heist that led to casualties. He's not a good or kind person. We only want him to succeed because he's one of the two protagonists. It's weird.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Maybe my favorite Pacino performance, he's both completely bonkers and incredibly nuanced at the same time. The entire last hour or so of the film starting with the heist is just perfect and the ending shot is burned into my mind.
This is definitely one of my all-time favorite movies. The shootout is also one of the scenes I always use to test out new audio equipment for the home theater, its so damn impressive.
Hands down, one of my favorite movies of all time.
That being said, I've never been crazy about the ending. Something about the entire movie just devolving to a foot chase and shoot out at the airport just feels... weak? To me. It has always felt like they ran out of time to write/film this movie and just rushed the ending to meet the deadline.
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and I don't know what I would have done differently to improve upon it. It's just my least favorite aspect of the movie.
I’ve been listening to Heat 2 on audio and I’ve been enjoying the heck out of it. It doesn’t necessarily add anything new or take anything away from the movie and it’s extremely fast paced, riveting and exciting. I’m looking forward to Mann’s adaptation
It really is a tragedy when you break it down. Neil had a clean getaway but his pride wouldn't let him walk away from Waingro, and that one decision cost him literally everything.
Neil McCauley: I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. I know life is short, whatever time you get is luck. You want to walk? You walk right now. Or on your own... on your own you choose to come with me. And all I know is... all I know is there's no point in me going anywhere anymore if it's going to be alone... without you.
Don’t hate me for saying it, but I found the movie to be massively overhyped on Reddit. I absolutely love a heist/crime movie, and good shootout action scenes.. but this one felt flat for me.
Maybe my expectations were just too high due to this website constantly praising it as one of the greatest movies ever; but it just didn’t do it for me.
I personally find Heat overdone and cliched. I find Thief emotionally immature. Best version of this theme Mann ever did was writing the criminally(!) underrated Straight Time
Unpopular opinion I know, but this movie sucks. The script is stupid, Pacino is grating and the characters actions are nonsense. I love quite a few of Mann’s films and I think Heat is the worst of all that I’ve seen. It’s boring as all hell. I unironically think Den of Thieves is so much better in every way.
I struggled with it when I first saw it. But a friend told me to pick one character - any character - and follow them through it. I picked Val Kilmer’s role and focused on his difficult, weird journey and suddenly I became very interested in the people around him.
It’s a character study. Just with a lot of characters.
I quite like this film after a third viewing, but boy does it drag on. I remember falling asleep while watching this at the cinema when it first came out. One of the things I do find interesting about Heat though is its exploration of how a life of crime (committing it / solving it) affects the women surrounding the main characters.
"I don't know how to do anything else."
"Neither do I."
"I don't really want to do anything else."
"Neither do I."
I had coffee with McCauley…HALF AN HOUR AGO!
Bon voyage, motherfucker.
You were good.
GIMMIE ALL YOU GOT!!!!
Don’t waste my MOTHERFUCKING TIME
Who? Who? What are you a fuckin owl?
One of Pacino’s best outbursts, and he’s had more than a few of them
Well yeah.
Cuz he’s got a GREAT ASS
Wasn't it "she's got a great ass"?
I always thought he was essentially mocking him with what they heard over the wire tap to let him know, just how much of his conversations they've heard.
It was an unscripted outburst from Pacino. That's why Hank Azario's horrified reaction to it is hillariously genuine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9hFRw5jeRQ
Also, removed in the edit was how Pacino had a bad coke habit.
Which, I think they were like "So your character, he does a bump or two before every single scene" and Pacino was like "A bump or two? Aha, okay, I'll tone it down then."
Hank Azaria has an impressive incidental record of his characters being yelled at by some of the best in the business.
Does anyone have any idea where these people are?
Genuinely one of the greatest one on one conversation scenes in all of film history. (Key phrase: "one of".)
There are so many layers to it, what's not being said, the dual threat and respect, the subtle movements by each character. And on top of that, it was decades of Hollywood history in the making by finally getting De Niro and Pacino in the same scene.
It's one of those movies that truly stands the test of time. And this scene is one of the reasons.
People often meme the wild over the top scenes Pacino does in Heat, but there are some truly amazing quiet moments where he really lets you see the character's heart.
Oh, 100%.
The few coked out moments are what make the highlight reels, but most of the movie he's pretty subdued, very tender, methodical, and at times terrifying with how calculated he is.
His scenes with his struggling relationship and everything with his step-daughter (a very young Natalie Portman!) are incredible.
It is one of the best performances in the decade and he wasn't even nominated.
"Oh, I see, what I should do is, er, come home and say "Hi honey! Guess what? I walked into this house today, where this junkie asshole just fried his baby in a microwave, because it was crying too loud. So let me share that with you. Come on, let's share that, and in sharing it, we'll somehow, er, cathartically dispel all that heinous shit". Right?"
I'd say just about every scene in Heat has so many layers to it, it's one of my favorite movies of all time.
Not one of. The greatest ever, perhaps only challenged by Walken and Hopper throwing haymakers at each other in True Romance.
Nah the greatest ever is the park scene in Good Will Hunting
Unless you consider Robin Williams game six story. That's the best scene in that film.
Inglorious bastards is #1
I know where people want to go with this, and it's: Right movie, wrong scene. The basement scene is actually the best ever over the opening farmhouse scene.
Still incredible that a movie can be mentioned among the best use of dialogue in a single scene, and you have to specify "Which one?"
If nothing else, Tarantino knows how to write them, for sure.
i think it beautifully illustrated how they were exactly the same but situations and happenstance caused them to be enemies
great fucking movie
McCauley is like the only dude in the movie all pacino talks in a respectful manner to
It’s such an honest exchange between two people that for a brief moment feels understood by someone. One’s personal life is falling apart and the other is so isolated.
It’s what makes it so great and tragic. In another timeline Neil and Hanna could have been friends.
The little smile they share after this exchange in particular. They understand each other.
There had to be at least one take with Michael saying "now kiss" at the end
It's fantastic because earlier, Neil learns about Hanna. So when Hanna describes his personal life being a disaster zone, Neil knows he's being honest, as opposed to just making things up to play him.
The duality and kinsmanship is that scene is great.
Nolan said he drew a lot of inspiration from Heat for the Dark Knight and it really shows.
For me the sun rises and sets with watching this movie over and over, man
For me, the action is the juice.
And after all the touchy feelings speech, they look at Trejo: "Yeah, sure" 😁
“For me, the action is the juice. I’m in”
Best acting of Sizemore’s career in that scene
I also love the scene in Saving Private Ryan where he confronts Ed Burns’ character. Terrific actor.
Yeah, I'm gonna go with Saving Private Ryan as his second greatest acting job of his entire career as well. He was good in Heat, but he's a key piece in making Saving Private Ryan so amazing.
Obviously his best role ever was in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
He really was. Shame how things turned out for him.
He’s absolutely fantastic in Strange Days too. Brilliant actor.
One of the all time greats.
I love how revered it’s gotten over time, it’s become so influential in its genre. Superbly written, top tier ensemble cast, soundtrack and sound design. I don’t know how else to describe it but the atmosphere is just amazing. Have always thought Michael Mann always nails the music and sound in his film.
In Heat, you feel like characters have entire conversations with each other in between the long pauses. There’s a real art in how terse the script is.
If I recall correctly, it was praised by the critics when it came out.
If only they could fix the awful dialogue with Waingro and the young black prostitute. The attempt at ‘jive talking’ sticks out like a sore thumb in a near-perfect movie.
I usually skip that scene. We already know he’s a loose cannon and a psycho, so that scene doesn’t add anything for me.
I think they needed to make sure that both Hanna and McCauley are viewed as morally gray characters who, despite their flaws, are not "inherently" evil.
We see that with McCauley from his reaction after the first heist but having that scene is what involves Hanna with the girl's murder and I personally feel it's a (cheap?) way to remind the audience and tell us, "See that guy? Both the cop and the robber hate his guts".
What happens when you love our additions, but don't know a single one of us to run shit by.
That scene is basically the perfect example of a white person trying to write black people, and it hurts so bad.
I actually thought of this scene when I read the miles as Thor what if from marvel...
Not that there aren’t plenty of examples of this, but one of the first characters to come to mind is ‘Travis Mayweather’ from Star Trek Enterprise.
The best is that he made a TV movie version of it first with nobodies and its bad. The acting is a huge part of it.
"She’s got a Great Ass, and you got your head all the way up it..."
"What am I doing? I'm talking to an empty telephone. 'cause there is a dead man on the end of this fuckin' line."
“Geez that’s ominous. Guess I should go back to my house made entirely of glass and watch a hockey game alone.”
Is there a movie terminology for when the protagonist breaks his own rule and suffers the consequences?
McCauley didn't follow his 30 sec rule with heat around the corner and paid the price.
Tony Montana gave his word to Sosa to kill the journalist and didn't follow through with Tony gunned down by Bolivian mercenaries
The Transporter opened the package and all hell broke loose.
Plot.
thumbs up in Aristotle
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InevitablyBrokenRule
It's not even his 30 sec rule that got him... he couldn't let Waingro live, that's what got him killed.
Waingro was the "something" that he needed to move past in order to escape. Waingro made McCauley violate his own rule.
He does drop the girl though
You see McCauley adhere to his rule right in the movie. He walks from the girl.
This is a great question — it’s like the precise opposite of a tragic flaw. Maybe you can name it! I like Cigart flaw… maybe Pandoric flaw or Adamic flaw would work?
Hypocrisy, unfortunately
I think that’s just cause & effect.
Absolutely love the end shot with the incredible score over the top of it
Moby
God Moving Over the Face of the Waters
It's one of my favorite Romeo and Juliet adaptations. How DeNiro and Pacino are perfect for each other but torn apart by their past choices... absolute cinema!
star crossed lovers
“GIVE ME ALL YOU GOT! GIVE ME ALL YOU GOT!”
whoever is going to play them in the upcoming prequel/sequel must be both excited and terrified.
They are playing themselves. AI/CGI style.
What?! You didn’t like the Irishman?!
The greatest crime film of our time.
As always, putting in a plug to read Heat 2 or get that audiobook. The knowledge of the characters in the movie paints such an amazing picture in your mind of all these folks and how they think.
It was probably my favorite read of the year.
The small details, the past and present moments that tie it all together, it was excellent.
Pretty sure it only came out 10 years ago. 30 years is impossible.
10 years ago when Pacino and De Niro were just in their mid 70s
r/thirtyyearsago
It feels like it could’ve come out yesterday
3 hours long and it just sails by
A guy told me one time - don't let yourself get attached to anything that you are not willing to walk out in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner
The greatest shootout sequence.
“ I had coffee with McCauley HALF AN HOUR AGO!”
For Raul.
She's got a GREAT ASS
God, I love that movie. I can't believe it is 30 years old.
Sooo, can we get an IMAX rerelease in preparatin for the sequel?
The shootouts are amazing and demonstrate the significance of rehearsal over and over prior to a scene and good planning and execution goes a long way
The absolute pinnacle of cops vs. robbers.
One of the GOATs. Never get tired of rewatching this one. Acting, pacing, dialogue - everything is just perfect.
Classic review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFMtTF0hgBE
Mann's contemporary crime thrillers always seem to perfectly encapsulate the decade they're set in. Thief, Manhunter, Heat, Collateral, Miami Vice, Blackhat. Really wish he'd do one for the 2020s.
The only sadness is the end. Deniro should have just kept driving.
I never found it sad. He gave the go ahead to kill the other guards after Waingro needlessly killed one. And he spearheaded a bank heist that led to casualties. He's not a good or kind person. We only want him to succeed because he's one of the two protagonists. It's weird.
One of my favorite movies of all time. Maybe my favorite Pacino performance, he's both completely bonkers and incredibly nuanced at the same time. The entire last hour or so of the film starting with the heist is just perfect and the ending shot is burned into my mind.
"Tokd you I'm never going back."
This is definitely one of my all-time favorite movies. The shootout is also one of the scenes I always use to test out new audio equipment for the home theater, its so damn impressive.
Hands down, one of my favorite movies of all time.
That being said, I've never been crazy about the ending. Something about the entire movie just devolving to a foot chase and shoot out at the airport just feels... weak? To me. It has always felt like they ran out of time to write/film this movie and just rushed the ending to meet the deadline.
I've been thinking about this for a long time, and I don't know what I would have done differently to improve upon it. It's just my least favorite aspect of the movie.
I do what I do best, take scores. You do what you do best, try to stop guys like me.
I’ve been listening to Heat 2 on audio and I’ve been enjoying the heck out of it. It doesn’t necessarily add anything new or take anything away from the movie and it’s extremely fast paced, riveting and exciting. I’m looking forward to Mann’s adaptation
"Three marriages, what the fuck you think that means? He likes stayin' home?
It really is a tragedy when you break it down. Neil had a clean getaway but his pride wouldn't let him walk away from Waingro, and that one decision cost him literally everything.
Neil McCauley: I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. I know life is short, whatever time you get is luck. You want to walk? You walk right now. Or on your own... on your own you choose to come with me. And all I know is... all I know is there's no point in me going anywhere anymore if it's going to be alone... without you.
Fire and Sadness. Sounds like the sigil of a small, not well-known sect of Emo Targaryens.
“What are you doing?”
“What I am doing? I’m talking to an empty telephone.”
“I don’t understand.”
“‘Cause there’s a dead man on the other end of this fucking line.”
Sounds like the perfect excuse to binge it again this weekend.
It is a movie about how men relate to work
Don’t hate me for saying it, but I found the movie to be massively overhyped on Reddit. I absolutely love a heist/crime movie, and good shootout action scenes.. but this one felt flat for me.
Maybe my expectations were just too high due to this website constantly praising it as one of the greatest movies ever; but it just didn’t do it for me.
Terrific heists and shoot outs, but god awful sub plots and tropes.
I personally find Heat overdone and cliched. I find Thief emotionally immature. Best version of this theme Mann ever did was writing the criminally(!) underrated Straight Time
People can act infantile and volatile in real life, why not in movies
Unpopular opinion I know, but this movie sucks. The script is stupid, Pacino is grating and the characters actions are nonsense. I love quite a few of Mann’s films and I think Heat is the worst of all that I’ve seen. It’s boring as all hell. I unironically think Den of Thieves is so much better in every way.
I struggled with it when I first saw it. But a friend told me to pick one character - any character - and follow them through it. I picked Val Kilmer’s role and focused on his difficult, weird journey and suddenly I became very interested in the people around him.
It’s a character study. Just with a lot of characters.
And a terrible script!
I quite like this film after a third viewing, but boy does it drag on. I remember falling asleep while watching this at the cinema when it first came out. One of the things I do find interesting about Heat though is its exploration of how a life of crime (committing it / solving it) affects the women surrounding the main characters.
Sounds like the perfect chill night in—count me in!