I am a big fan of this Michael Mann film. I love the big shootout scene simply as a great action piece, but every time I watch I can’t help thinking that there is no way the cops would engage in a shootout on a congested public street like that. If they did they would be in serious trouble. But then I can kind of justify it as it being the outcome of events, after all Kilmer is the one who shoots first. But how many civlians died in the shootout? In reality I would guess the cops would back off. Still I love the scene and the movie.
Most people I know love this flick, I don’t.
I think that the shootout and the opening robbery are well staged as action set pieces; but overall I found the movie kind of flabby and tepid. Kilmer has too little to do until the action starts. His character was so vague, I kept wondering why Ashley Judd loved him. Pacino’s homelife felt like scenes from another movie. If it affected his professional judgement so much, he should have been reassigned, not kept in charge of a high pressure case when he kept making mistakes.
As for the shootout, I looked at it as a situation that the police lost control of. IIRC, they couldn’t clear all the people out, which would set the robbers off, probably resulting in an even messier hostage situation inside. The robbers did shoot their way out with fully automatic gunfire, with no concern for anyone but themselves. The cops had to worry about civilians, protecting themselves, and trying to stop De Niro and crew. They were spread too thin as well as mostly out gunned. Even Pacino’s group, who were armed with assault rifles, had to pick their shots. Each robber only had to look out for a few other members of his gang, each cop had to look out for everyone.
The movie didn’t really show it, but I’m sure lots of people in the department would lose their jobs, be demoted, or reassigned in the fallout. Just think of the bad PR for the police after this, heads would have to roll.
I was always amazed that they got out of there when they were surrounded on both sides. Wouldn’t some sniper have hovered over them in a helicopter and picked them off? They only took hostages later.
I also thought the closing chase through the runways ripped off Bullitt.
As an aside, did I hear FX (or whichever network) promoting this as a movie inspired by the real-life North Hollywood heist? Since the movie (1995) actually came out before that particular bank robbery (February 1997).
Incidentally, there was a bank robbery & shootout (with car chase!) in my town the morning after Heat aired for the first time on broadcast TV. Go figure.
Grumpy, I live in L.A., and at the time of the North Hollywood Heist, it was compared to Heat, not the other way around, since as you point out, the movie was first.
And having seen footage of that heist, it just goes to show that something like the shootout in Heat could happen. That guy in the heist had rainbows of empty shells coming out of his weapon. It was definitely life imitating art.