A cop (Al Pacino) tracks down crooks (Robert De Niro & Val Kilmer).
I typically enjoy Michael Mann's work, so I figure this film should be a kick-ass watch w\ De Niro & Pacino. Kilmer looked like a dirty hippie the entire film. First off, this looks like it was shot w\ the same technique & equipment Mann used to shoot Miami Vice. I'd swear to Christ some of the set pieces looked like Sonny & Tubbs should've been standing next to them. The music reeks of mid '90s synth strings, particularly during the final scene. While mainly fiction, I should note that, as a touch of reality, the female characters existed solely to be pains in the ass to the male characters. Pacino, De Niro, & Kilmer all've some chick that makes their life more difficult than it already is.
The acting is relatively good. By no means are we talking performances of a lifetime, but if it was anyone other than Robert & Al trying to pull off some of these lines, the dialogue would just sound disconnected from any logic. When not being bitched at by his wife, Val turns in a decent supporting role.
This film is kind of like the band Audioslave. With the immense amount of talent, you think it'd be the bad-ass, mind-blowing nexus of entertainment heard of but once in a lifetime. But what is left feels like an above average, professional performance that is lifted to the much coveted next level by the celebrity involved in the project. Am I saying the movie sucked? No, I enjoyed it. Kicked some ass. Was it the cosmic, end-all, be-all, Pacino vs. De Niro kick-ass, dragdown, no holds barred, supernova causing, universe smashing, big bad motherfucker of moviedom for here & ever after? Uh, no.
Take away Pacino & De Niro, this film goes into the 2.5 - 3.0 star range no questions asked.
Verdict : 4.0 stars. Oh, so close to the legendary five-star rating. Script revision, a few reshoots, less tired ending, etc., could've made this iconic.
At 'Dem Flicks w\ Malcolm - Heat
I'd say without DeNiro and Pacino the rating drops even farther. This is a bad script held up by phenominal acting.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell