Tonight on TV: A masterpiece of the 90s, still unmatched in its genre

Inspired by a 1960s criminal case, Michael Mann made a TV movie called LA Takedown in 1989. Six years later, he wrote and directed his own remake. Titled Heat, it follows the long-distance battle between Neil McCauley, a professional robber, and Vincent Hanna, a stubborn police lieutenant, until their final showdown.

In the skin of the main characters, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, two holy monsters of cinema, who only crossed paths in The Godfather, Part 2, here collide with each other throughout the film, before their unforgettable meeting. But even if they do eventually respond, Michael Mann subverts the audience’s expectations by making sure that no two actors appear on screen at the same time.

easily warmth It also marks the apogee of the director’s style in urban thrillers. Nervous, dark, violent and heavy, the film is a breathless game of cat and mouse, rich in secondary characters, highlighted by ultra-realistic Dantesque scenes (let’s mention the famous scene of shooting in the streets of Los Angeles, the indomitable virtuoso. ), which marked a generation of viewers and continues to influence to this day It affects filmmakers who try their hand at this type of exercise.

on its production, warmth was a commercial success, grossing $187 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. In France it exceeds a million.

With an average audience rating of 4.3/5 on AlloCiné, warmth It is now considered one of the best thrillers of all time.

warmth By Michael Mann with Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer…

Tonight on Arte at 9 o’clock.