Oscar® winners Al Pacino* and Robert De Niro** both drive one of the most powerful and complex crime dramas of all time - four-time Oscar nominee Michael Mann’s*** 1995 classic HEAT, arriving in an all-new Director’s Definitive Edition May 9 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
In the wake of a precision heist of an armored van, the crew of a fierce, professional thief (De Niro) and an obsessively driven LAPD detective (Pacino) are locked in deadly opposition as they vector towards each other in Mann’s dazzling, twilight vision of Los Angeles. As the stakes escalate and their lives begin to unravel, the crew initiates its most dangerous and complex heist.
Taking inspiration from the late Chicago police detective Charlie Adamson – who killed the actual Neil McCauley in a shootout in 1963 – HEAT was the culmination of years of research by Mann resulting in its depth and range of characters and choreography of action. With its epic scale and stunning performances from Pacino, De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman, Diane Venora, Natalie Portman and Jon Voight, HEAT is as incendiary as it was 20 years ago.
*Actor, Scent of a Woman, 1992
**Actor, Raging Bull, 1980; Supporting Actor, The Godfather: Part II, 1974
***The Aviator, 2004, Best Picture (Michael Mann and Graham King, Producers)
The Insider: Directing, Best Picture (Michael Mann and Pieter Jan Brugge, Producers), Adapted Screenplay (Eric Roth, Michael Mann)
Heat is without a doubt one of the finest crime dramas ever made and in this latest edition from Michael Mann it remains so. The knockout scene between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro is worth the price of admission alone. Rounded out by a an excellent cast that is wholly invested if you don't own this classic it's time to do so. 9.5/10
Heat arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer in the aspect ratio of 2.40:1 - Coming from a brand new 4K remaster this isn't the revelation some may be hoping for but it is the best the film has looked at home. Switching between this new disc and the old Warner Blu-ray shows a noticeably darker image and a cooler tone with overall clarity being the best upgrade. The previous transfer had an at times digitally enhanced image with artifacts. Black levels are deep with interesting shadow details. Color reproduction gives the film a more moody, modern look and it is up to the viewer to determine if that is for the better. I personally enjoyed the remaster and color timing choices.9/10
Audio is provided by a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. - There was no discernible difference between this track and the already gut punching Dolby True HD presentation on the previous disc. Action beats are room filling all out aural assaults with powerful shotgun blasts, hundreds of bullets whipping past and through you and a thumping score. Rest of the film shows good dynamic range and crisp dialogue. 10/10
* Commentary by Michael Mann
* (NEW) Academy Panel reuniting Mann, Pacino and De Niro and moderated by Christopher Nolan (HD, 1:03:23)
* (NEW)Toronto International Film Festival Q&A with Mann (HD, 30:27)
* The Making of Heat (SD, 59:12)
- True Crime
- Crime Stories
- Into the Fire
* Pacino and De Niro: The Conversation (SD, 09:58)
* Return to the Scene of the Crime (SD, 12:05)
* Additional Footage - Deleted Scenes (SD, 09:44)
- Scene 5 - Season's starting early
- Scene 42 - Nicest guy on the block
- Scene 55 - Albert and Hanna (Alternate Take)
- Scene 62 – Shakedown
- Scene 76 - Murder in C-Block
- Scene 96A - Let's Dance
- Scene 125 - Late arrival
- Scene 148/147 - Where's Anna?
- Scene 177B - Double the worst trouble
- Scene 191 - Nate delivers
- Scene 204A - No response
* Theatrical Trailers (SD, 06;48)
- Surprise of a Lifetime
- Two Actors Collide
- Closing In
