MovieChat Forums > Heat (1995) Discussion > Chris' escape and Hannah is to blame for...

Chris' escape and Hannah is to blame for everything!

posted 4 years ago by bpj (2)
13 replies | jump to latest

Vincent Hannah literally is responsible for multiple deaths, chaos and disaster because of his approach to this investigation. When the crew leave their botched vault robbery he says 'they will walk away and you will let them!' Siply because it's not a big enough arrest. Well if they had beenarrested the crew would've been broken up, all put under probation supervisin and added understanding of their addresses activities etc, it would've stopped the bank robbery and all those deaths involved in it. Not to mention that if it weren't for Waingro the bank robbery would've gone down perfectly anyway. Hannah is 100% to blame for how disastrous events unfolded, and without Waingro he basically just let a bunch of robbers go loose to get awaywith a massive bank robbery. NOTHING he did in the film actually contributed to the catching of the crew it just fed his insane ego about catching Mccauely himself.

Secondly what the fuck was the deal with Chris driving away? You're telling me the most wanted fugitive in America doesn't have a mugshot they can verify him from? Why would they need Charlene and Charlene alone to identify him? Just arrest him and check him out, check his image against his mugshot? That part of the film is brilliant but so outrageously unrealistic it's absurd. There must have been dozens of criminals low level thugs, cops, etc who could all positively identify him. The idea that only his wife could tell if it was him is ridiculous.

[–] Redsfan001 (6218) 4 years ago

Crews can survive a petty arrest.

That they would have not planned a big heist afterwards is speculation. As one of the gang said "The action IS the juice." or words to that effect, these are action fiends and are unlikely to go straight.

You make a good point about the mugshot of Chris, the cops at the checkpoint should have had one, you just have to give that one to dramatic license.

[–] TMC-4 (20494) 4 years ago

Somebody on Reddit recently said that Michael Mann seemed to aim for being dramatic instead of what was logical.

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/mip2m2/heat_1995/gt6ugdp/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

They would have been arrested, possibly have done some jail time, been under probationary supervision.

Yes, they may likely have still endeavoured to get together and plan a big robbery, but so what? If Hannah had them arrested for the lesser 'breaking and entering' offence, it would have made it *harder* for them to plan anything as a team, without defying their probation conditions.

[–] spurtle467 (1558) 4 years ago

Yeah Chris being allowed to drive away was silly and implausible. They would have had a visual idea who they were looking for, and the area was being heavily surveyed. Surely someone besides his wife was looking at him park his car outside the residence, get out and look up towards his wife for a minute? Even if they weren't to know what he looked like they know Neil's crew is very smart at this point and a fake ID was very likely.

[–] Boromir (10131) 2 years ago

someone besides his wife was looking at him park his car outside the residence, get out and look up towards his wife for a minute?

This is what I thinking exactly. It was dark and in the background we seen some blacks folks playing basketball and many other people watching them. So why not take one or two black policeman undercover wearing a t-shirt to blend in the crowd?!?

And none of them showed any suspicion in light of the strange behavior of the driver? he park the car in front of the house, go out to the other side of the car, and than look at Charlene direction for few long seconds, and at the end makes a U-turn with his vehicle.

And one last thing, we're supposed to assume they didn't find any photo of Chris in Charlene possession? none at all?

[–] BourbonKing (5789) 4 years ago

The method of ID'ing Chris was absurd imho. Having the entire house staffed to the hilt with cops as well as on the streets and they're gonna trust a blind verification from Charlene looking out from the balcony. Not only that, the cops outside would have noticed Chris looking up at Charlene as well. It was a tense scene but again very implausible.

[–] Snausages (9) a year ago

There was a SWAT member with a rifle on the opposite side of the street where Charlene was. He clearly would have seen the hand gesture she made assuming he was using the scope or binoculars.

[–] BeaSouth (3566) 4 years ago

Two very reasonable gripes about the story. Pretty hard to believe the writers didn’t think about these problems

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

100% THIS. On both counts.

The second issue I can forgive. Yes, it's a matter of contrivance and plausibility (like you say, the cops would have a mugshot identifying Chris when he was pulled over), but it doesn't significantly affect our feelings towards any of the characters.

BUT the first issue bugs me even whilst I'm watching this otherwise excellent movie, because, as you say, if Hannah and his crew *had* arrested Neil and co for 'breaking and entering', at least they'd have been apprehended and on probation, and in the short-term at least, that bank robbery would never have happened, and Hannah's colleagues, and all the various civillians caught in the crossfire, would still be alive.

What was Hannah bothered about? The extra paperwork in booking Neil and co for a lesser crime?

Catching crooks is often about mitigating escalation, and apprehending and supervising them at a relatively early stage, so that they don't 'move up' to bigger and worse crimes. Hannah completely screwed up here, and the lives of all those individuals killed during the bank robbery escape, are almost entirely on HIM.

[–] Ace_Spade (9659) 2 years ago

No, Hannah was right. That crew were hardened, seasoned pros and would have shrugged off the B&E, known the heat was around the corner, and turned into ghosts. They'd have been working crimes within months, and getting away with them, too, because Hannah wouldn't see them coming. The only reason the cops were on to Neil's crew was because Waingrow muffed the first job, which brought Vincent down on them. You want to blame somebody for them getting away? Blame the cop who thumped the container with his shotgun.

As to Chris walking, the cops thought they'd put enough screws to Charlene to get her to do what they wanted. Chris had modified his appearance, and while it's obvious to us that that's Val Kilmer, it's amazing how little people are recognized when changing superficial features (like removing a ponytail and dying hair).

[–] moviechatterer (16326) 2 years ago

nah , the first thing is understanable , hannah did the right thing.

that second thing with chris is ludachris , its borderline plot hole .

[–] BKB (11330) a year ago

But.. But.. But.. Then if they had arrested them when you said, then we wouldn't have had the glorious pleasure of watching that Epic gun fight in downtown L.A