Perhaps it was the fact that Heat was preceded by far more meticulously crafted thrillers in my watchlist (No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood), or that I went in with high expectations. Whatever the reason, the end result was disappointment.
Heat does not tell a new story - this is the same old tale of a cop dedicated to putting his criminal adversary behind bars. The cop is a complicated man himself (surprise!). He believes in burning himself out and ignoring everything to the detriment of his marriage (a pattern being repeated for the third time, as we're frequently reminded). The script feels the need to mention all of this over and over, which I believe is a disservice to the audience who are smarter than given credit for.
There are also numerous references to the lack of personal attachments one has in the criminal life, and how you need to be ready to drop everything and run if you spot the eponymous "heat" around the corner. The film goes to great pains to ensure you'll see the ending coming a mile away.
The only thing that makes Heat enjoyable are the lead performances, but on all other fronts, it was a letdown. Perhaps if this was an hour shorter it could have been more enjoyable, but with the story it serves up it has no business running for as long as it does.
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