De Niro and Pacino in Heat: A Bygone Era

Yes, Heat is the usual Michael Mann superficial eye candy with a typical-of-the-era way OTT performance by Pacino. Even though I am usually non-plussed by both actors, De Niro is restrained enough in fairness. (For me, both did their better screen work prior to 1980). I'm ambivalent by Gosling's minimalism but I like Driver so may catch the remake.

Sorry.

Heat was hyped up because two wrongly typecast actors were together in the type of movie they were typecast for.

The rest of the post is just Abe Simpson talking about what "it was"

Heat is a great movie with superb action and perfect pacing. The De Niro / Pacino diner scene though is hugely overrated.

There was nothing particularly good about Heat. Pacino and De Niro starring together for the first time was just a marketing ploy.

Michael Mann directed Miami Vice. That’s the level the movie’s at.

Think there's a certain amount of, perhaps errant, "things were better back in the day" thinking to this - that audiences back then were more discriminating than now, with the present day folks only interested in superhero nonsense.

The reality is that the number one box office movie in 1995 waassssssss - Batman Forever. And the atrocious Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls was number 5. Heat, meanwhile, only came in at number 53. (Now, part of that is because of its late-year release, so some of its box office takings came in 1996 - but even if you total them up together, it's barely troubling the top 25). The likes of Heat or Deadpool x Wolverine (and Batman Forever) are answering very different film niches to each other. They're not in competition.

As for the lack of names with that gravitas within pop-culture now… that's just sort of part of the reality of a more saturated media landscape. There was less room at the top before, so those that were there got more name recognition. Now, with a billion high quality TV outlets, and nigh on infinite movie streaming churn, it's hard for any individuals to register that same level of clout.

I have seen Heat maybe 3 or 4 times, as used to own it on Laserdisc and had a surround sound system at home when I was younger, and it was an intense watch, even outside of the shootout scene. But that was amazing to listen to.

As for the film itself, very enjoyable from what I remember but haven't watched it in years and wondering how I would see it now. Often when I go back and watch some older films, I find them quite cheesy and/or outdated. But they were of their time.

I do remember thinking Pacino really hammed it up too much in Heat, like he has done in other films too. De Niro was a much better performance. I guess if I watched it again now his performance would annoy me!

But agree that there simply isn't the actors now that you'd want to see paired up on screen. Although I do enjoy seeing Pitt and Clooney together.

As said above - character cross-over gains far more attention that actor collaborations these days. I won't deny there was some excitement at seeing Thor & Captain America combine in the first Avengers movie (a much bigger draw than "Chris Evans & Chris Hemsworth teaming up"), who'd have thought a few years later there would be 30+ superheroes combining. But, it's diminishing returns. Ryan Reynolds may not be everyone's cup of tea on screen, but I think he's an absolute genius and tapping into that excitement with his marketing exploits. Everyone comes away from Deadpool & Wolverine talking about the cameos and not about the storytelling.

Back to Heat. One of my favourite movies, and I happily return to it on occasion. Pacino is nowhere near his best (Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Godfather etc), but he's highly watchable and I find it funny seeing his cocaine cop juxtaposed against DeNiro's understated criminal. I know it's almost word-for-word against Miami Takedown, but there is a gravitas that both bring to the aforementioned coffee scene, and having an understated conversation be their first scene together as opposed to an all-out war is very fitting.

Another actor collaboration I'd like to see would be Samuel L and Denzel. Would be kinda like DeNiro and Pacino. Denzel could be the understated one. And Samuel could be like Pacino - like, "look at me, and how loud I can shout".

One of my favourite films and a cinema experience that still stays with me to this day; I can remember being sort of in a mesmerised daze on the bus journey back home…loved every minute of it and I've re-watched it countless times since.

Sure there was a lot of hype about Deniro and Pacino being on screen together for the first time, but IMHO it's a phenomenal scene with a lot of subtext that's beautifully acted without being "showy".

As someone's already said, Pacino played Hanna they way he did as he was supposed to be a coke head, apparently there was a scene filmed where he took a 'bump' but it was cut.

According to Mann, the story is loosely based on the real story of Chuck Adamson's pursuit of the real Neil McCauley in the 60's and apparently they did sit down to a coffee at one point (he was a consultant on the film).

A good movie, no its a great movie, not just a good movie.

They dont make films like that anymore, the mid 90's was a golden age for films.

Brilliantly acted, well directed with a superb soundtrack.

I remember going to see it in the cinema at the time and they hype was huge and rightly so.

I never really understood the fascination with the restaurant table scene in Heat, beyond the fact the two of them were on screen together. It was a bit over egged and badly written. It was hardly a tension filled Tarantino bit of dialogue.

Heat was a great action film, well paced, with no fat on it. Pacino's over the top shouty detective was a big hook for the film. As was the bank heist scene. You never forget the sound of those assault rifles echoing through the streets.

Have to agree , an average film for that particular time and too long with poor pacing in parts . Both actors getting past their best and Pacino doing his era defining overacting , there was no magic in the scene they done together which was levered into the film to satisfy expectation .