Written and Directed by Michael Mann

Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore,  Jon Voight, Diane Venora, Ashley Judd, Amy Brennerman, Natalie Portman, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Dennis Haysbert, William Fichtner, Kevin Gage, Mykelti Williamson, Hank Azaria, Danny Trejo, Jeremy Piven, Xander Berkely.

Vincent Hanna (Pacino) is a seasoned Lieutenant with the famous RHD at LAPD. He is on his third marriage to Justine (Venora), which is on the rocks. His job takes him to investigate a series of robberies, which lead him to discover Neil McCauley (DeNiro) the cool, calculated leader. With McCauley wanting to do one big last score, with Hanna stop them?

Fascinating film, which delves into the lives of both sides of the law, and how it impacts those around them; especially the women in their lives. Each of the men who are on either Hanna’s or McCauley’s teams have their either wives or girlfriends seen, and the film is almost a love story to them.

It is brilliantly directed, with some very well shot action sequences, the neighbourhood shootout scene in particular is probably one of the most realistic shootout scenes on film. The city of LA, is almost a ‘tertiary’ character itself as there is frequent mentions of the streets and locations that would be more relatable to a native of the city.

The primary three are Venora as Hanna’s wife – who struggles to connect with him due to his job. Brennerman as Eady, who is McCauley’s new love interest – who does not discover what his real ‘job’ is until later in the film. Lastly there is Judd, who is Kilmer’s wife Charlene – who is desperate to leave the life she is living. They are each well written, and are almost equally as important to the primary story.

The cast is stacked with plenty of well known names on both sides, who were either big name stars at the time, or who would go onto be bigger names later on (looking at you Ms Portman). The central two cast however, Pacino and DeNiro, had never shared a scene together before this film, and the dynamic between the two is amazing. The characters have almost admiration for each other, and at the same time want to bring each other down.

The score is dynamic, and does the film justice. There are also moments where it is not needed, and rather the use of diegetic sound is used – primarily the edge of your seat final shoot out, where only the planes coming in for landing is heard. Unbelievable that this was not nominated for single Oscar.

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