Welcome to CinemaToast
(December
2002)
We're Doing It Again
We had occasion to watch Heat when
we realized that Michael Mann was repeating
himself. Currently he has a network television show called Robbery
Homicide Division starring Tom Sizemore. We
like the show, particularly Mr. Sizemore and in looking at his past
work, we remembered his role in Mann's film Heat. So we watched
that movie again and it struck us: in Heat, Al Pacino is the head
of the Robbery Homicide Division and Tom Sizemore is one of the thieves.
In the TV show Robbery Homicide Division, made 7 years later, Tom
is now playing the head detective of that very same division. Black hat
to white hat. Anyway, in watching the movie, we noticed what an awe
inspiring cast Mann had assembled.
The Cast from
Heat (1995):
Produced, written and directed by Michael
Mann.
Some of his other great works: Thief (1981),
Manhunter (1986), The Last of The Mohicans (1992), The
Insider (1999), and the new TV show Robbery Homicide Division.
Manhunter was the first appearance of Hannibal Lector, four years
before The Silence of The Lambs. He is shown here
directing Al Pacino in Heat.
 Al
Pacino
Role: Al is the head
detective, boss of the Robbery Homicide Division.
"An acting legend, what can we add to the mountain of praise,
adulation and awards this actor as already received? Some of his roles
that we so appreciate: The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Sea of
Love (1989), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) and Simone
(2002)."
Robert De Niro
Role: In Heat,
Robert's character is the top thief, the leader of 'the crew'. 'The
crew' is a gang of highly disciplined and professional thieves.
"What can we say about Bobby De Niro? For a reminder of the
enormous talent of this actor just view: Mean Streets (1973), Taxi
Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980) or Goodfellas (1990).
Plus many, many more. There were only two movies that Al Pacino and
Robert De Niro worked in together. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
and this film Heat (1995)."
 Tom
Sizemore
Role: Competent,
reliable and too-intelligent & too-honorable-for-his-own-good crew
member.
"One of our favorite actors, Tom has thrilled and moved us with his
roles in Flight of The Intruder (1991), Heart and Souls
(1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Black Hawk Down
(2001). There is small irony in that in Heat, Tom plays one of
the gang of professional thieves being pursued by Al Pacino as head of
the Robbery Homicide Division and, currently, Tom plays the head
detective in that same police unit in Michael Mann's television series Robbery
Homicide Division. From bad guy to good guy for Michael Mann."
 Val
Kilmer
Role: Hard,
professional and extremely competent, Val is one of 'the crew'. His
character is married to Ashley Judd.
"Val is one of our favorite actors who has never quite broken into
the 'A' list. Some of his roles that we really liked were in Real
Genius (1985) - a favorite movie of ours -, Top Gun
(1986), True Romance (1993) and Pollock (2000)."
Ashley Judd
Role: Ashley's
character is married to Val Kilmer and lover to Hank Azaria and is
instrumental in betraying 'the crew'.
"Ms Judd is from that talented show-biz family 'The Judds'. We
first noticed her performance in the little seen independent film Ruby
In Paradise (1993). Since then her career has blossomed with
terrific roles in Kiss The Girls (1997), Norma Jean &
Marilyn (1996) and the current running Frida."
Hank Azaria
Role: Hank plays the
lover to Ashley Judd's character and helps trap 'the crew'.
"A very funny guy; a character actor who works both on TV (Mad
About You and The Simpsons) and in the movies (besides Heat,
you can also see him in Pretty Woman (1990), The Birdcage
(1996) and Mystery, Alaska (1999). He was married to the fabulous
Helen Hunt."
Wes Studi
Role: Wes is the crew
member who rats them out to the police.
"Wes is a Native American (of the Cherokee Nation) and a Vietnam
Vet who has graced many of our favorite movies: Dances With Wolves
(1990), The Last of The Mohicans (1992) and Ice Planet
(2001)."
 Bud
Cort
Role: Bud plays a
hard-nosed, slimy restaurant manager. His role is un- credited.
"He is a terrific character actor who's been around for awhile. Bud
is probably most famous playing opposite Ruth Gordon in Harold &
Maud (1971) and providing the voice to Edgar, the computer, in one
of our favorite movies, Electric Dreams from 1984."
 Dennis
Haysbert
Role: Dennis plays a
paroled ex-con, a fry cook screwed-over by Bud Cort's manager and a last
minute addition to 'the crew'.
"An excellent actor, Dennis has added to such movies as Navy
SEALS (1990), The Thirteenth Floor
(1999) and the currently running Far From Heaven. He also
plays the President in that unique and thrilling TV show "24".
 Natalie
Portman
Role: She is the
screwed-up, adolescent daughter to Al Pacino.
"Natalie is a powerful actor who first put the world on notice with
her astonishingly mature performance in The Professional (1994).
Currently as Queen Amidala, she is the future bride to Anakin Skywalker
(soon-to-become Darth Vader) and mother to Princess Leia and Luke
Skywalker! For those of you living in caves, we're talking about Star
Wars, Episodes I, II and III. Look it up."
Amy Brenneman
Role: Amy's character
is the innocent love interest to Al Pacino.
"A talented young actor, Amy currently has a hit television show (Judging
Amy)."
 Jon
Voight
Role: He plays the
fence, the set-up man and provides intelligence to De Niro and his crew.
"Jon is a veteran Hollywood actor and has had many starring roles: Midnight
Cowboy (1969), Catch-22
(1970), Runaway Train (1985), Anaconda (1997) and an
eerie performance as Howard Cosell in Ali (2001)."
We apologize for once again listing a cast that
we admire. We know we did this recently with the cast of Pleasantville
(1998) but golly, when a stupendous cast jumps up and smacks us in
the face, it's hard to ignore. We often wonder if filmmakers are proud
when they cast someone early in their vocation and that actor goes on to
a stellar career.
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