HEAT 1995 Movie

Finally, two great tastes, that taste great together, in one powerful cookie. DeNiro and Pacino on screen with each other for the first time. I wonder who decided which role each would play? The roles are that of a cop (Pacino) and robber (DeNiro). Either one could have delivered either role just well as the other. What we have is two of the greatest actors rocking each other's worlds, in an ultimate chess match of wits.

DeNiro plays the leader of "gang" (if you will) that hits only the big time. He if offered a job to hit a bank that could bring in an estimated $12.3 million, who could say no. He gets the crew together and are for the taking. The only thing that is going to get their way is Pacino. Pacino is the cop that has had his career eat up his life. The only thing that Pacino wants is to catch DeNiro and do what he has to do.

The side plot of the two heros, is their problems with the women in their lives. Pacino's third marriage is hitting rock bottom. DeNiro is persuing a relationship maybe a little deeper then he thought he could with lady in the bookstore. And even Val Kilmer (one of DeNiro's men) is being torn by his new family life and his bad habits.

For the last semister in school, I have been studying Archtypes by Jung and others in literature and movies. Here in HEAT there are some symbols that I may be looking to deep into.

DeNiro and his new girlfriend symbolize his wants to leave his life and start a new. His girlfriend is the compassion in his life that he is lacking and is only now will to try. He has disconnected himself so much from others and the world, he has become the existential man. Pacino and his career have distanced him in his life and self as much, that he to has lost meaning and has been cast out into the wasteland.

The most Jung analizing came in the scene where Al and Robert are having coffee at a diner and discussing their points of view with each other. Both have been having trouble sleeping due to their dreams. Both dreams woudl get Jung very excited. If interpreted correctly, it sounds as if both of them are wanting out.

Back to the movie and not the crazy thought that I have. I do have to say that HEAT has the best gun fighting scene ever. When I saw that for first time on the big screen, I was impressed. Intense, long, and loud the gun scene is worthing watching alone, even if you think that the rest of the movie is long or boring. And notice the music during the gun scene... there is none. It is a masterpiece.

I do really really love movies where you have to follow the plot and each character in order to get the whole meaning which the writter intended. If you liked CASINO, GODFATHERS (who didn't) or the recent TRAFFIC, then you will like HEAT. I would definitly recommend this movie to everyone meet and make fun of those who have not seen the movie or who may have not like it.

Love JediGonk