‘Heat’ Still Has the Best Shootout in Cinema History
In the crime drama “Heat,” we find the core conflict revolving around two main characters: Vincent Hanna, portrayed by Al Pacino, who’s an LAPD detective, and Neil McCauley, played by Robert De Niro, a master criminal. Their first encounter in the famous coffee shop scene sets the tone for a mutual appreciation and comprehension between them, despite their readiness to take each other’s life if circumstances demand it. This significant coffee-shop dialogue, appearing around the 90-minute mark of “Heat,” helps clear up any lingering curiosity about Hanna and McCauley’s fascination with one another. Simultaneously, it foreshadows an impending violent clash between them. This confrontation ensues roughly 10 minutes later in the movie when McCauley and his team attempt a daylight bank robbery in downtown Los Angeles, but run straight into a police trap orchestrated by Hanna.