Heat

As Al Pacino takes De Niro’s hand… as De Niro takes his last gasps, and Mann cuts to Pacino’s face, and we hear God Moving Over the Face of the Waters begin to play- it hits me every time how perfect of a movie this is. Pacino is visibly upset that he had to make this choice, to take down someone, maybe the only other person in the world, who truly understands and appreciates the care for the craft. He knows it was the right one, but like he said in the diner, he doesn’t like it.  The final shot of the two together, one given the release of death, one cursed to continue living by his code, lit by the lights of the LAX runway, is beautiful and gut wrenching.  I love this movie more than any other. It is truly Michael Mann’s masterpiece.