"He holds up his hand without a word and the other man takes it. It is never spoken, but we hear it all the same from their eyes and gestures"
That's so true, and it is Mann's talent (genius?). "It is never spoken". Mann don't explain or overexplain ideas and feelings, you just have to watch his careful sense of framing, locations and the way he shows his actor's eyes, small gestures, like in this final scene of "Heat" (and many scenes of this others films, like the finale of "Last of the mohicans" or the killer and his blind girlfriend scenes of "Manhunter")...that's Pure Cinema, no words but the camerawork and editing suggest us everything we need to know.
" don't let me die alone. Even though they have chosen lonely lives, they yearn for companionship. Like us all, I guess."
Mann once said something like that De Niro's character was "a lucky man to die in presence of the only person on earth who could understand him".
"And the music just breaks your heart, while simultaneously providing hope. (kudos to Kronos Quartet)"
I've never thought of hope watching this last scene of "Heat"...there are beautiful surrounding lights in the shot but in the same time the scene is all about the tragedy of their lives...De Niro has finally escaped, he is a free man but has paid the price, loosing his life and Pacino has "won", but for what prize??? He killed himself somewhat in killing McCauley's character, so his "hunter" life has no meaning anymore (and his private life is probably wasted forever).
"One of the most effective closing sequences I've ever experienced, though it took a good ten years of maturing for it to finally resonate. Glad it finally did, tho."
Good to read this...what do you think of others Mann's movies? Do they evoke to you strong feelings like "Heat"?
Mann has directed so many memorable films...great director, and probably underrated.
"First time I saw the movie I was a bit gutted that De Niro died though. This movie is perfect."
Indeed. De Niro's character was likeable and touching, more than Pacino's character somewhat, so i wanted him to escape and live with Eady!
But Pacino's character is also a real human being, flawed but also able to empathize with people...that's Mann genius of screenwriting and De Niro and Pacino's talent to make these people real human beings, and not generic "puppets" seen in too many films from Hollywood!
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tph890 (490)
8 years ago
Thanks for your response, sorry for the delay.
I am only familiar with a few of Mann's films--Collateral and Public Enemies left the biggest impact. But I could combine what I've learned from those two and still only have learned half of what Heat taught.
Collateral seems like an unofficial sequel to Heat--another L.A. flick--which is also beautifully shot but much more streamlined in regards to pacing. A very different ride, but it still hits you in the gut every chance it gets; character driven but more thriller oriented.
Scenes that come to mind: the detective being shot as he exits the club--we have come to know this person and this is how he goes out...so brutal. The detective character embodies another L.A. Story, but Collateral continues to move on with different players.
Another scene: Cruise going to the hospital and seeing Foxx's mother, adding further dynamics to each character, keeping the story grey when it could very easily have been black and white.
As to the hope I referred to regarding Heat's conclusion: it was mostly the music/score which inspired this feeling, the music brings hope to a tragic scene. And then those wonderful twinkling lights in the distance sincerely adds to the vision and moment and each emotion they bring, but I must concede that the climax was truly a dismal one.
The hope is for tomorrow--for each of us. For the battle may be lost (or won) but the war rages on, unceasing, and we would wish a more hopeful future bestowed upon those who follow: our children, our brothers and sisters...yes, we have fought, but there is hope that the fighting will eventually end. I say 'might' quite deliberately, for it seems that human conflict never truly ends...but maybe there is a chance that it could.
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