Hey-theres still time to get up to AFI in Silver Spring to see 1995s Heat at 6:30 followed by a discussion Heres what I wrote up about it. Heat Warner Bros. (1995) Directed --------- Michael Mann Screenplay--------Michael Mann Cinematography--Dante Spinotti Music------------Elliot Goldenthal Lt. Vincent Hanna--------------Al Pacino Neil McCauley-----------Robert De Niro Chris Shiherlis------------------Val Kilmer Nate-----------------------------Jon Voight “What do you say if I buy you a cup of coffee?” Lt. Vincent Hanna-Heat And with that line we segue into a riveting scene in a diner featuring, perhaps, the two greatest male screen actors of the last half of the twentieth century (I suppose there’s an argument to be started here-and we can have it-but later). Film goers could be said to have been waiting for this moment for the twenty-one years since Al Pacino and Robert De Niro appeared in The Godfather: Part II (1974). But this would mark the first time that the two stars appeared on screen at the same time. The scene doesn’t disappoint. Both actors came up about the same time, but Pacino had his breakout with The Godfather (1972) and De Niro two years later in the sequel. Both are New York City born and bred and are only three years apart in age (Pacino was born in 1940: De Niro in 1943). Both bring a strong intensity to the screen and come across as generally dangerous. Both have Italian names which only help to enhance certain aspects of their characters (although De Niro is actually mostly Irish in heritage) and, as it happens, both have had very successful working relationships with top flight directors, also of Italian heritage, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, respectively. And both have played innumerable cops and robbers, as well as other indelible characters, in a list of films that sounds like a best of list. Pacino’s credits include, in addition to those already mentioned, Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Scarface (1983), Sea of Love (1989), Carlito’s Way (1993) and, two years after tonight’s film, Donnie Brasco (1997). De Niro’s credits are equally or more impressive and include Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Once Upon A Time In America (1984), The Untouchables (1987), Midnight Run (1988), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), Analyze This (1999) and he recently played a pretty bad dude in a small uncredited role in American Hustle (2013). Of course, both have played many different types of roles, as well. At this point in time, Pacino seems to have a better, more interesting later career, including the recent (Phil Spector (2013), while De Niro seems to making less interesting project choices like The Big Wedding (2013) and Last Vegas (2013), but then again, he was pretty darn good in Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Director / writer Michael Mann has piloted several fine motion pictures in his career. His best known works have a striking visual style and build tension in a way that few filmmakers can pull off. And many of his films contain within them a hunter-hunted motif, as does tonight’s film. And his protagonists seem to operate with a sense of purpose bordering on the obsessive. He was the driving creative force behind television’s Miami Vice (1984-90) and film director credits include Manhunter (1986), featuring the first (and some say best) screen appearance of Hannibal Lechter, The Last of the Mohicans (1992), The Insider (1999), Ali (2001) and Collateral (2004). As you enjoy tonight’s film, consider the male character’s relationships to each other as opposed to the relationships that they have with women in their lives. Consider how these two lead characters are practically defined by each other, just as Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier or The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are. In a way, they couldn’t exist as we know them without the other. And consider how the men are enslaved by their work, whether they’re wearing the white hats or the black hats. And what they sacrifice, knowingly, for their work. As one character in the film says, “Well ya know, for me, the action is the juice.” Messers. Mann, Pacino and De Niro sure make that juice fizzy. Screenplay--------------------Michael Mann Neil McCauley-----------Robert De Niro Cinematography------------Dante Spinotti Chris Shiherlis------------------Val Kilmer Music-----------------------Elliot Goldenthal Nate-----------------------------Jon Voight “What do you say if I buy you a cup of coffee?” Lt. Vincent Hanna-Heat And with that line we segue into a riveting scene in a diner featuring, perhaps, the two greatest male screen actors of the last half of the twentieth century (I suppose there’s an argument to be started here-and we can have it-but later). Film goers could be said to have been waiting for this moment for the twenty-one years since Al Pacino and Robert De Niro appeared in The Godfather: Part II (1974). But this would mark the first time that the two stars appeared on screen at the same time. The scene doesn’t disappoint. Both actors came up about the same time, but Pacino had his breakout with The Godfather (1972) and De Niro two years later in the sequel. Both are New York City born and bred and are only three years apart in age (Pacino was born in 1940: De Niro in 1943). Both bring a strong intensity to the screen and come across as generally dangerous. Both have Italian names which only help to enhance certain aspects of their characters (although De Niro is actually mostly Irish in heritage) and, as it happens, both have had very successful working relationships with top flight directors, also of Italian heritage, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, respectively. And both have played innumerable cops and robbers, as well as other indelible characters, in a list of films that sounds like a best of list. Pacino’s credits include, in addition to those already mentioned, Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Scarface (1983), Sea of Love (1989), Carlito’s Way (1993) and, two years after tonight’s film, Donnie Brasco (1997). De Niro’s credits are equally or more impressive and include Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Once Upon A Time In America (1984), The Untouchables (1987), Midnight Run (1988), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), Analyze This (1999) and he recently played a pretty bad dude in a small uncredited role in American Hustle (2013). Of course, both have played many different types of roles, as well. At this point in time, Pacino seems to have a better, more interesting later career, including the recent (Phil Spector (2013), while De Niro seems to making less interesting project choices like The Big Wedding (2013) and Last Vegas (2013), but then again, he was pretty darn good in Silver Linings Playbook (2012). Director / writer Michael Mann has piloted several fine motion pictures in his career. His best known works have a striking visual style and build tension in a way that few filmmakers can pull off. And many of his films contain within them a hunter-hunted motif, as does tonight’s film. And his protagonists seem to operate with a sense of purpose bordering on the obsessive. He was the driving creative force behind television’s Miami Vice (1984-90) and film director credits include Manhunter (1986), featuring the first (and some say best) screen appearance of Hannibal Lechter, The Last of the Mohicans (1992), The Insider (1999), Ali (2001) and Collateral (2004). As you enjoy tonight’s film, consider the male character’s relationships to each other as opposed to the relationships that they have with women in their lives. Consider how these two lead characters are practically defined by each other, just as Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier or The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are. In a way, they couldn’t exist as we know them without the other. And consider how the men are enslaved by their work, whether they’re wearing the white hats or the black hats. And what they sacrifice, knowingly, for their work. As one character in the film says, “Well ya know, for me, the action is the juice.” Messers. Mann, Pacino and De Niro sure make that juice fizzy. led by your truly. Hope to see you.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 22:09:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015