You gonna tell me fairy tales?

I have a working theory that Heat is Michael Mann's least interesting work. Stay with me on this one. I know in some quarters that is a blasphemous statement...

Sure, it has that wonderful coffee shop scene with Pacino and De Niro. The shootout on the street is a solid piece of action. There are a ton of amazing character actors all over the place, and Hank Azaria has a funny story about the "great ass" scene...

But it feels hollow and empty. A character of a movie about criminals and cops. Slick, but vacant of humanity. Too clean.

The criminals are too competent. The cops are too righteous. The language too pristine. The friendships feel forced and the family scenes feel like sketches of families drawn by an outsider.

Basically, it ain't no Thief.