'Cops and Robbers' at its best.

An epic is defined as "a long narrative poem, on a grand scale, about the deeds of heroes and warriors." Though certainly not a poem, fans of this movie will see the poetry of director Michael Mann's breathtaking cinematography. How can one make Los Angeles so beautiful? I for one, having lived there and still a frequent guest, find most of LA dingy and dirty, a bed of asphalt wrapped in a blanket of smog. That is, until day is done and the lights turn on. Then there are few cities more captivating. What Mann has done however is make Los Angeles not only presentable in the daylight, but somehow beautiful. In nearly every seen, whether it be outside a warehouse or in a run-down cafe, Mann brings life to otherwise dull and dreary surroundings.

Set amongst then the beautiful cinematography is the story of Vincent Hannah, an extremely accomplished detective played by Al Pacino, and a mastermind thief (Neal McCauley)
played by Robert De Niro. McCauley, with a substantial criminal record, is working a few last "scores" before retirement to an exotic location; Hannah is obsessed with catching the elusive and brilliant McCauley. Though I've yet to see every film in each actor's body of work, I think most would agree that this film is some of the greatest work either has done. This is classic Pacino and classic De Niro. Though some would argue that these characters are merely a rehash of old ones from previous films, I say Hannah and McCauley are the summations of those previous characters. Everything good about Pacino and De Niro as actors is found in these two characters. Pacino is simply at his best here in pursuit, while De Niro shines at being pursued.

Arguably two of our greatest actors, what has always drawn me to them is not really their tough-guy images (though I am drawn to that, mainly because I am clearly not one) but their independence and aloofness; their seeming lack of need for others; their dissatisfaction with "normal-life" events such as (as De Niro says in the film) barbeques and ballgames; and their plain, honest, straightforward speech (as Hannah says, "I say what I mean and do what I say."), albeit usually laced with profanity. It's the independence and strength of will that have impressed me, partly because I am a bit of a loner, so watching some of their films (such as Ronin, Carlito's Way, to name a couple) has given me solace. I admire their strong-willed determination to live the lives they've imagined, even if it alienates them from society. That last phrase could raise some eyebrows, but that's just the way I see a lot of De Niro and Pacino characters.

But what is so beautiful about Heat is that underneath the tough-guy images of these two characters, they are really just like everyone else: they want and need love and companionship. At one point McCauley is asked by his girlfriend if he's lonely: "I'm alone but not lonely," he says, scratching his chin. We don't believe him. Hannah meanwhile is wrapping up his third failed marriage. We see a man so consumed with his job who underneath it all desires love.

I know some will no doubt think this sappy ("Dude! There are great shoot-outs!") And indeed there are. This is a brilliant movie through and through: McCauley and Hannah having coffee in the Broadway Cafe is classic; the gun battle scene is breathtaking; the most terrifying, thrilling and realistic I've seen; the plot is captivating (though difficult to follow unless listening carefully), and the ending is suspenseful, climactic, and... sad.

So back to epic (if you're still with me, which I'm sure most of you aren't by now. And who could blame you?). Epic is grand in scale and tells the story of heroes and warriors. Heat is definitely grand in scale. It is beautifully acted and beautifully displayed. And it tells the story of heroes and warriors: definitely not in the traditional sense of which we would classify heroes and warriors, but my review is becoming in itself epic, so I won't go any further on that one.

But the sadness lying underneath the action of this movie is what makes it a great action film; it gives true feelings and emotion, unlike most action films, to people who live and fight in a dangerous world. It's not about a bunch of mindless brutes crashing cars and shooting each other for the heck of it. It's real people in a messed-up world trying to find happiness. And, it tells me that it's okay to love someone, to even need someone. Even the tough Hannah and McCauley needed someone. There are no true loners out there. Some of us thought we might be, but De Niro spoiled it for us, and actually I'm quite glad he did.