For it's worth this is my favourite music from the soundtrack. There was no way I could get past copyright though ua-cam.com/video/-EILNvJ2y2I/v-deo.html
"They are born, put in a box; they go home to live in a box; they study by ticking boxes; they go to what is called "work" in a box, where they sit in their cubicle box; they drive to the grocery store in a box to buy food in a box; they talk about thinking "outside the box"; and when they die they are put in a box." - Nassim Taleb 📦
Yeh it’s pretty depressing when you break it down like that. Perhaps lll go and live in a Mongolian Yurt out in the middle of no where in Siberia. At least it’s a round structure and no crowds of dull people or big cities to p*#s me off😂
This quote is suspiciously similar to a quote from the 2009 film The Box; "Your home is a box. Your car is a box on wheels. You drive to work in it. You drive home in it. You sit in your home, staring into a box. It erodes your soul, while the box that is your body inevitably withers... then dies. Whereupon it is placed in the ultimate box, to slowly decompose."
Even though 1980's movies hinted at where we were going as a society, Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver is the first atomized and troubled man in modern cinema in my view.
An exceptional film and performance, also loved Peter Boyle’s minor role as ‘The Wizard.’ His encounter with Travis really highlighted the protagonist’s detachment.
Your bit about people seeing the business they work for as part of their family is spot on. My Mum worked for a major Telco for 25 years, going through too many restructerings and remodellings to count along the way. After all that time and her continued loyalty, they ended up making her redundent and sending her job to one of those developing countries where they can pay people 1/10th of what they'd earn here. She had over 2 months of sick leave built up and didn't use any of it before she left, citing it as being "wrong" to use given that she wasn't sick. Even now she sticks with them as her main Telco provider, even though they're more expensive and less reliable than the competition.
Reminds me of what my Mom would do in that situation. Although we're Canadian every show she watches is about a quaint British village. She gives her loyalty, faith, and trust over to the system as if it were part of an extended familial network, like a small town. As men we are supposed to notice that strength-vulnerability and guide it to it's proper domain. Unfortunately the system uses it's unearned trust to turn women against us, as if we're the ones who've been exploiting their good nature.
White people need to get rid of this economic delusion. The decent thing to do at this stage is take every penny you can from the state/enemies and stockpile for future.
And the ironic part is that they hold thatcher/Reagan in high regard and then wonder why the capitalists became better capitalists and started shitting on people.
Another banger Morgoth. It pains me to watch movies I once loved because I now see how much vitriol the people of Hollywood have for us. A truly Herculean task lays ahead of us, godspeed to us all.
We need more great films where a bunch of heroic and brave psychopaths just shoot the general public up. It's just so cool. I want to move to downtown Baltimore.
It's a multi generational marathon. You must be ready, willing and able to plant a tree you'll never get to sit in the shade of. Start a cathedral you'll never see complicated, help our children who haven't been born yet. Fix in your mind, every day, our future.
I agree with your analysis. I rewatched the film recently. Interesting how the three relationships are all on the rocks for the same reason. Their alienation prevents them from maintaining a marriage or in Neil's case even a relationship
The 90s was the last decade of good movies. That’s exactly why now big corporations like Netflix are constantly making films and other programmes based in the 80s & 90s because it reminds people when the world and certainly entertainment was far better than the s#*t they produce today.
For me, that diner scene has always been the turning point where Vincent Hanna stops being the antagonist in a crime thriller and becomes the protagonist in a crime drama. Both men are alienated from the society they live in, but Hanna is self-aware about how dysfunctional his life is. He regrets not being able to be a good husband, and he encourages a "work hard, play hard" attitude toward life among his detectives. He appreciates the value of _resisting_ atomization and admires it when he sees it in others, even though he knows he can never do it himself. He is the "sheepdog" who has more in common with his adversary, the wolf, than with his friend, the sheep - but he knows he lives in a world of sheep and that's better than a world of wolves. McCauley, on the other hand, has turned his atomization into an ideology. He is constantly giving himself airs about "discipline" and scolds his crew for wanting wives, families, homes, and a sense of belonging - for wanting to live in a world of sheep. He looks down on his comrades whenever they show signs of resistance because they are holding up a mirror to his own loneliness that he doesn't want to reckon with. By the time he decides he wants to live the life of a sheep after all, it's already too late for him because he can't walk away from the wolf life. In the diner scene, McCauley is so sure that he has the answer to life in this world. But Hanna tells him: *"If I'm there and I gotta put you away, I won't like it. But I'll tell ya: if it's between you and some poor bastard whose life you're gonna turn into a widow, brother, you are going down."* Even if you have been projecting yourself onto DeNiro's ruthless and confident character and laughing at Pacino's neurotic and desperate character, you will probably end up rooting for Pacino in the finale because he is oriented toward the good.
You have put it in an amazingly clear way. It is very interesting the way that Heat juxtaposes the character of the villain and the hero. Most blockbusters and even some that have a semblance of intelligence have "men in black" evil corporate people that you just have to run from or kill them there is dialogue between good and evil and it is fascinating to me that Heat explores that dialogue even in their action scenes because they are doing it for personal motivations and not some random company mission statement.
11 місяців тому+1
I think that's the proof of virtue for most, who do you root for? Even if virtue is still far away from us I think most of us, instinctively root for Vincent.
2 quotes that I think support your analysis of this: "You don't live with me, you live among the remains of dead people. You sift through the detritus, you read the terrain, you search for signs of passing, for the scent of your prey, and then you hunt them down. That's the only thing you're committed to. The rest is the mess you leave as you pass through." "the action IS the juice" men that have been domesticated by modern life and these high stake heists are their rejection of it and their hunter-gatherer urges still trying to get out..
Absolutely iconic movie. A movie where even the sound design (the famous gunshots) is unforgettable. There won't be any more masterpieces like that coming from Hollywood.
Back in 1995 I remember seeing this in the theatre with a woman friend of mine. When the movie ended I felt like I had witnesses something marvellous and truly special. The first comment my friend said was "That was way too long..." which was followed up with "... it was okay I guess." I couldn't believe that we had seen the same movie! The movie literally had no impact on her and was simply an excuse to eat popcorn. I've seen the movie probably ten times since it originally was released and I 'get something out of it' every time. Michael Mann allows his films to embody nihilistic realism. This was one of the last 'important movies' that was filmed/released before the internet became a thing for the masses to suckle upon neurally. That irony isn't lost on me. People didn't have their smartphones in their hands constantly dicking around with distraction after distraction flickering about on a shiny screen. Even something as simple as people talking around a table in a diner would have been different had the scene been in 2005. It's a shame that Mann's last film was terrible in a number of regard from an editing perspective. His 'creative voice' will be sorely missed.
@@zachmedia9951 you’re crazy. Heat is one of the most perfect and important films of our time. 1 hour and 45 minutes would not nearly have been enough to capsulate this masterpiece of a film. Stick to watching Michael Bay movies.
I remember when the credits rolled ... realizing I hadn't checked the time once throughout .. I'd seen something timeless and masterful. I said to myself "that's the most complete and perfect movie I've ever seen"
It's been years since I watched Heat. Just watched it again and one thing that really stood out to me is how eerily calm the whole atmosphere of the film is, it's just got that cool mid-90s everything is running smooth feeling to it. Like the bit where he goes to the guy in the wheel chair to get details on a job and as Robert walks away you get a big wide angle view of the LA (I think?) Highway in the background with everybody going about their daily life....while these days you half expect people to be laid across it for insulating houses or BLM banners hanging from the bridge.
Yes. In this way, Ridley Scott's portrayal of modern life in Blade Runner shows a dismal view of where things are leading. Constantly raining, everywhere you look you're bombarded by advertisements, and "science" has "progressed" to the point of creating Replicants -- instead of sorting out the psychological horrors created by "modern technology" and its effects on the environment (the constant rain & grey skies) and on human minds (the bombardments of advertisement). It's a pithy commentary offered by Rutger Hauer's dying monologue that brings all into focus, showing how futile technology is when it's given too much free rein over the human society it's supposed to enhance.
Yes i totally get what your saying. It’s almost as if the 90s was the last great decade before it all went to s#^t. When L.A was a cool, slick city, when music and Movies were brilliant not like the Crap we see today and that L.A is now a shadow of its former self.
‘The best books tell you what you already know,’ is a quote from ‘1984.’ I have loved this move for 25 years and knew but couldn’t express why. Thank you, morgoth.
How many of us have struggled with these issues. I remember telling an ex partner that a 3 bed semi with a white picket fence, and a mondeo on the drive was a nightmare that scared me more than anything.. she thought that was a goal to aim for.. I walked.
... As a German Biologist - this is one of the rare Masterpieces I can watch again and appreciate each second. It is the essence of Impulse Control - the pure essence of Stoicism to always stay calm and composed. ARETE. Thank GOD it has zero effect - accelerating natural human self extinction. Incipit tragoedia - Nietzsche.
I watch this movie once every few years. I intentionally don’t watch it yearly so as to maintain that constant sense of anticipation/constant high one experiences when watching this movie. It’s been a few years…right about that time….perfect! Glad it’s not going to be one of these “I’m so smart that I think literally every movie ever made sucks” blowhards reviewing it.
They captured the noise of real gunfire accurately and that's what sells it. When your in a area with multiple guns going off you can't hear shit. That what it felt like
The heist film with 50 cent and Gerard Butler had a better one, they didn’t just have expendable mags. Would be a better movie too if it wasn’t for the shithouse twist at the end
Beautiful, per usual of your videos. Another scene that adds to your overall thesis is when the gang is deciding to press forward, following the platinum debacle (Amaaaaaazing scene). Neil goes to each person, and when he comes to Sizemore's character, Michael, he doesn't reward loyalty ("I'm with you, Neil, Whatever..."), but instead presses Michael to make an objective decision. Michael responds in the most peak-yet-underplayed Tom Sizemore scene we've ever gotten, "For me, the action is the juice. I'm in." Even after Neil runs down all that Michael had attained to that point, and my, how impressive it all was (indeed, for most normies, Michael had won and achieved everything), still, it was "the action" and "the juice" that made all the sense in the world to Michael and the rest of the gang. Not the rewards every organization man was promised could be his.
@10:00 what you are describing here is a concept called Depressive realism, it is the hypothesis developed by Lauren Alloy and Lyn Yvonne Abramson[ that depressed individuals make more realistic inferences than non-depressed individuals. Although depressed individuals are thought to have a negative cognitive bias that results in recurrent, negative automatic thoughts, maladaptive behaviors, and dysfunctional world beliefs, depressive realism argues not only that this negativity may reflect a more accurate appraisal of the world but also that non-depressed individuals' appraisals are positively biased.
The scene in the diner between Pacino and De Niro, is one of the greatest in cinema. Hanna (Pacino) and McCauley (De Niro) are clearly alter-egos and their mutual nemeses - “allow nothing to be in your life that you cannot walk out on in thirty seconds flat if you spot the heat around the corner”….
@@MorgothsReview1 Love this film. I rewatched it again during the endless lockdown here - it’s lost none of it’s impact. Michael Mann was on a roll in the 90’s - Last of the Mohican’s in 1992, then this masterpiece. Followed by The Insider in 1999 which garnered Mann himself an Oscar nomination. I miss the days of going to the cinema…
@@BigBenn2014 Have a very big gun pointed at him under the table, and make sure he knows that if he tries something, you'll recreate the the scene in Star Wars with Han Solo and Greedo, only there won't be a debate over who shot first
In fairness, Morgoth, Apocalypse Now is long and fatigueing. It's meant to be that way because war is long and fatigueing. The travel up the river is slow, brutal, and exhausting, which is more than likely an important objective for that film (and certainly met). Rambo has is much easier on the soul. Understandable that you would more often find yourself in the mood for a fun Rambo re-watch than the emotionally draining and far more accurate depiction of war presented in Apocalypse Now.
Strangely I find Apocalypse Now much more engaging than Rambo 2, First Blood on the other hand is another story, but even then I've only watched First Blood maybe 5 times, versus the 30+ times I've watched the Apocalypse Now Redux. For me Apocalypse Now is an almost psychedelic journey into the depths of my own psyche. I have a rather obsessive attachment to the film. I see myself, my inner self, in Willard; face painted and half naked rising from the river waters with death in his heart.
@@runreilly after some rough math it's somewhere around 100 hours, not entirely with full attention. Needless to say I know the film frame by frame and word by word. That's watching the Redux, which has an extra 49 minutes of footage. On my first few watches it was absolutely hypnotizing. Even still it engages some kind of primal force in my reptile brain whilst simultaneously stimulating my conscious meditations.
@@stormthecat7395 Yes, he’s one of my absolute favourites. I listen to one or other of his ambient works every day and have done so for years, usually on repeat for a few hours.. love his «pop/rock» records from the 70s too.
In a better movie, Vincent (Pacino) and Neil (DeNiro) would've identified eachother as fellow travelers on the same path after the diner scene: two demigods looking for meaning in a intractably nihilistic world. They could've formed a pincer attack with Neil doing the dirty work from the bottom, as Neil aids him from the top and feeds him the Waingro garbage to be dealt with. The lack of this relationship between the overworld and the underworld in real life is both tragic and perplexing; again atomization even separates the gods from forming pantheons.
Absolutely loved this film. Haven't seen it in over a decade. Though De Niro is an absolute asshole in real life, he is great in this. Which reminds me, Morgoth, have you ever thought about doing 'Midnight Run'?
@@jeffebdy why don’t you just download it off the internet and watch it? Can’t believe you still have a DVD player. Thought those things had died out years ago😂
A wonderful counterpart that I highly recommend to Heat fans is Safe (1995), starring Julianne Moore as arguably the Atomized Woman, unraveling in her own home from invisible paranoias, “allergic to the 20th Century”. It also stars Ralph (actor Xander Berkeley) as a kind of idealized Atomized Man
New subscriber here - very interesting analysis, I always felt that De Niro's character ultimately failed to uphold his code because his need for revenge was the one attachment he couldn't leave behind
It's because it's not natural. If you look at anything that occurs naturally in the world, there are very few things which are made up of straight lines.
I thought of this movie for years. I watched it as a teenager in the late 1990s. It always stuck with me. I watched it recently and remembered why. It’s a fantastic movie.
The fate of both men are intertwined and diametrically opposed in time, it is a race against the clock because both men are really close to get what they want. You can use Zizek's analysis of desire to explain. What De Niro's character secretly desires is to get out, but he thinks that the only way to get out is by doing one or two more jobs. This is what he think he needs(money), this is De Niro's living a fake life same as everyone else. He keeps telling himself that what he wants is the money, that it will buy him a happy ever after, but he is always _ready to leave_ he says. So why doesn't he leave? Because that would give him what he secretly desires(get out and live a happy life with someone he loves). So instead he finds endless ways of sabotaging it, not only by doing the heists, but also in that moralist crusade against people he doesn't care, for people that are not important to him and things that would not matter in his new life. Pacino's on the other hand, what he secretly desires is to mend the relationship with his estranged daughter and wife(secret real desire), to live a normal grid life(with his TV) and that is being made possible by De Niro's crew. So he "says" he can't do it, the bad guy is out there, so all he has to do is to get this ONE more baddie. So he goes out of his way to chase De Niro, chasing his fake desire all along because his greatest fear would be to get what he really wanted. So according to Zizek's analysis, happiness is just around the corner for them. But since "we pretend to desire things which we do not really desire. So ultimately, the worst thing that can happen to us is to get what we officially desire."
Another triumph of insight into modern man's soul. I admire your ability to graft together seemingly separate concepts into one cohérent observation. You truly have a beautiful mind morgoth.
I wanted to thank you for this analysis and the book you mentioned for the overall setting the stage of the movie and the modern world we live in. I have watched this move probably 6-8 and introduced to almost everyone in my life including girlfriends. I could never explain why I felt such an attachment and you sir explained it more elegantly than I ever could. Thank you and God Bless!
Neil McCauley was a real person. He spent most of his life in prison. 8 years in Alcatraz, including 4 in solitary confinement. The story is inspired by a real pursuit of a real robber. The cop, Chuck Adamson, did actually meet McCauley over coffee.
Thank you so much for this, Morgoth. Your review of this movie was precisely what I was looking for . . . to have someone explain to me, that which, I couldn't articulate in my own thoughts, and feelings associated with the empathy I have for the character of Niel Mccully, despite his criminality, and violation of my own moral code . Your perspective on the themes of this movie has more depth than every review, or discussion offered by anyone on this film. I might just buy you a pint, for helping me to understand myself a little better.
Listened to your planet of the apes chat yesterday and was planning on that being my Friday night movie but now it might be heat. Spending the next few hours stressing on this big decision.
_”Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat, if you feel the _*_HEAT_*_ around the corner.”_ Don’t stress… watch Heat.
Absolutely amazing analysis. You touched on and eloquently explained many thoughts and feeling I have when I watch this movie but im no good at explaining my thoughts so thank you for this. Love it
A really REALLY good analysis of my favourite movie of all time. I have lost count the amount of times I’ve watched it, and over the years it reveals more and more layers to the onion, between masculine archetypes, both healthy and toxic, and the thin line between criminal and cop. This essay gives me yet another frame to enjoy, glean insight and reflect on - the fact we are victims of the grid and it’s outputs, and consequences of reorganising society in such a way. I lived in LA for 2 years, and have been considering going back…this essay gives me pause for thought, and encourages me to ask a deeper question about what my wants and needs as a recovering atomized man truly are. Thank you so much!
Loved it! Cracking analysis....Michel De Certeau came to mind with the framework of reference of Martin and as an antithetical antidote.....and as a lad from the Toon the Northern tones show we got out finger on the pulse up here 😉
McCauley going back to get Waingro at the end of the movie is not the first time he breaks his own rule of walking away when the heat is on - he went back to save Chris during the shootout. It was established then that his gang was important to him, so him going after Waingro is not a surprise or out of character.
If they're such a high IQ team of engineers and mechanics in 1995.... why didn't they just invest in Google and Apple stock and become multi-billionaire hedge-fund quants?
Google wasn’t founded until 98 and wasn’t remotely first in the search space. Apple was going slowly bankrupt in 95, Jobs didn’t come back until 97. But keep going, you’re hilarious.
probably an unpopular opinion in this comment section but I think the grid is quite a cool phenomenon. I dont think it should replace the entire countryside ofc but I think the logic inherent in a grid speaks to the logic inherent in a civilization, and of course where did the grid first develop in the world? Architecture has always spoken for us in many ways and the grid is part of our story, but with the way cities are going, I wouldn't take the organizational grid as a given anymore...
Just wanted to say this was an excellent review. This movie could never be made today, too much toxic masculinity for normies. What a sad state of affairs for the Hetero-white male.
When you're getting shot at, bullets make all sorts of typical noises. The shoot out scene was recorded on location using blanks. Imo they should have recorded those weapons being shot at the materials depicted and used that on top of the location audio from the scene in the movie. Otherwise it's a memorable scene and a solid movie, I just thought they really missed a trick.
It's coming out in 4k bluray very soon. Hands down best shootout in cinema and my top 3 movies ever. Also best ending ever with Mobys God Moving over thr waters in a masterpiece.
A couple of months ago I was channel hopping and Heat had just started on sky movies. I intended to just leave it on in the background whilst I tidied up but instead I was transfixed for the entire runtime. I had seen it before but that on that last viewing I enjoyed it more than ever before. It is as close to a perfect film as you can get.
Mann, on what he rated as the 5th greatest movie ever: "Avatar is a brilliant synthesis of mythic tropes, with debts to Lévi-Strauss and Frazier’s The Golden Bough. It soars because, simply, it stones and transports you."
Thanks to everyone who supports my channel
www.buymeacoffee.com/morgoth
For it's worth this is my favourite music from the soundtrack. There was no way I could get past copyright though
ua-cam.com/video/-EILNvJ2y2I/v-deo.html
@@MorgothsReview1 Elliot Goldenthal Oy-Vey
Thank you for being worthy of all our support, Morgoth-殿! :)
@@WinterPhoenixForestKirin I do try my best
Quality video mate 👍👍
"They are born, put in a box; they go home to live in a box; they study by ticking boxes; they go to what is called "work" in a box, where they sit in their cubicle box; they drive to the grocery store in a box to buy food in a box; they talk about thinking "outside the box"; and when they die they are put in a box." - Nassim Taleb 📦
Good quote but he’s cucked on race realism.
Yeh it’s pretty depressing when you break it down like that. Perhaps lll go and live in a Mongolian Yurt out in the middle of no where in Siberia. At least it’s a round structure and no crowds of dull people or big cities to p*#s me off😂
This quote is suspiciously similar to a quote from the 2009 film The Box;
"Your home is a box. Your car is a box on wheels. You drive to work in it. You drive home in it. You sit in your home, staring into a box. It erodes your soul, while the box that is your body inevitably withers... then dies. Whereupon it is placed in the ultimate box, to slowly decompose."
we need boxes for shelter yes. even the homeless live in boxes
Yes, the angles of sorrow
Even though 1980's movies hinted at where we were going as a society, Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver is the first atomized and troubled man in modern cinema in my view.
An exceptional film and performance, also loved Peter Boyle’s minor role as ‘The Wizard.’ His encounter with Travis really highlighted the protagonist’s detachment.
@@jewelcitizen2567 I think there is a little Travis in all of us.
@@borisnegrarosa9113
*_”You talkin to me?”_*
😏
@@jewelcitizen2567 hahaha😁
I think black mirror is a good example of where we're going to be honest.
Your bit about people seeing the business they work for as part of their family is spot on. My Mum worked for a major Telco for 25 years, going through too many restructerings and remodellings to count along the way. After all that time and her continued loyalty, they ended up making her redundent and sending her job to one of those developing countries where they can pay people 1/10th of what they'd earn here. She had over 2 months of sick leave built up and didn't use any of it before she left, citing it as being "wrong" to use given that she wasn't sick. Even now she sticks with them as her main Telco provider, even though they're more expensive and less reliable than the competition.
Reminds me of what my Mom would do in that situation. Although we're Canadian every show she watches is about a quaint British village. She gives her loyalty, faith, and trust over to the system as if it were part of an extended familial network, like a small town. As men we are supposed to notice that strength-vulnerability and guide it to it's proper domain. Unfortunately the system uses it's unearned trust to turn women against us, as if we're the ones who've been exploiting their good nature.
Horrible bu uncommon story
White people need to get rid of this economic delusion. The decent thing to do at this stage is take every penny you can from the state/enemies and stockpile for future.
And the ironic part is that they hold thatcher/Reagan in high regard and then wonder why the capitalists became better capitalists and started shitting on people.
@@GhGh-gq8oo were Australian. She thought Gough Whitlam was the best PM for whatever that's worth
Another banger Morgoth. It pains me to watch movies I once loved because I now see how much vitriol the people of Hollywood have for us. A truly Herculean task lays ahead of us, godspeed to us all.
Blazing Sadles hits different now that I'm not a naive child
@@Paid2Win yeah =/
@@Paid2Win I’ve a group of mates who still hold it in high reverence, too far gone to get them to see
We need more great films where a bunch of heroic and brave psychopaths just shoot the general public up. It's just so cool. I want to move to downtown Baltimore.
It's a multi generational marathon. You must be ready, willing and able to plant a tree you'll never get to sit in the shade of. Start a cathedral you'll never see complicated, help our children who haven't been born yet. Fix in your mind, every day, our future.
I agree with your analysis. I rewatched the film recently. Interesting how the three relationships are all on the rocks for the same reason. Their alienation prevents them from maintaining a marriage or in Neil's case even a relationship
Good to see the famous Survive the Jive gracing the comments section.
Pleasant surprise seeing you here mate
It's become a cliché to say it at this point, but they really don't make em like this any more.
The reason De Niro turned back for Waingro was because of his Thumos, exactly what the last man is lacking.
Good point!
Many European men were born to live in the time of ice ages, conquest and crusades, rather than conference calls, interstates, and Kia Sorentos.
I hate kiaa
Wtf you on about ?
By conquest you mean colonize and steal lol
Put down the Andrew Tate son
Brother, a third of you died cuz you had no sewage. This ain’t a flex
This video was a masterpiece. Succinctly encapsulated my entire adult life in a narrative about a high quality 90s film.
Cheers mate👊🏻
Glad you liked it
The 90s was the last decade of good movies. That’s exactly why now big corporations like Netflix are constantly making films and other programmes based in the 80s & 90s because it reminds people when the world and certainly entertainment was far better than the s#*t they produce today.
Also, one of the few movies with realistic use of guns
For me, that diner scene has always been the turning point where Vincent Hanna stops being the antagonist in a crime thriller and becomes the protagonist in a crime drama.
Both men are alienated from the society they live in, but Hanna is self-aware about how dysfunctional his life is. He regrets not being able to be a good husband, and he encourages a "work hard, play hard" attitude toward life among his detectives. He appreciates the value of _resisting_ atomization and admires it when he sees it in others, even though he knows he can never do it himself. He is the "sheepdog" who has more in common with his adversary, the wolf, than with his friend, the sheep - but he knows he lives in a world of sheep and that's better than a world of wolves.
McCauley, on the other hand, has turned his atomization into an ideology. He is constantly giving himself airs about "discipline" and scolds his crew for wanting wives, families, homes, and a sense of belonging - for wanting to live in a world of sheep. He looks down on his comrades whenever they show signs of resistance because they are holding up a mirror to his own loneliness that he doesn't want to reckon with. By the time he decides he wants to live the life of a sheep after all, it's already too late for him because he can't walk away from the wolf life.
In the diner scene, McCauley is so sure that he has the answer to life in this world. But Hanna tells him: *"If I'm there and I gotta put you away, I won't like it. But I'll tell ya: if it's between you and some poor bastard whose life you're gonna turn into a widow, brother, you are going down."* Even if you have been projecting yourself onto DeNiro's ruthless and confident character and laughing at Pacino's neurotic and desperate character, you will probably end up rooting for Pacino in the finale because he is oriented toward the good.
You have put it in an amazingly clear way. It is very interesting the way that Heat juxtaposes the character of the villain and the hero. Most blockbusters and even some that have a semblance of intelligence have "men in black" evil corporate people that you just have to run from or kill them there is dialogue between good and evil and it is fascinating to me that Heat explores that dialogue even in their action scenes because they are doing it for personal motivations and not some random company mission statement.
I think that's the proof of virtue for most, who do you root for? Even if virtue is still far away from us I think most of us, instinctively root for Vincent.
You don't take antidepressants to fix yourself, but to distort so you fit in with the damage.
2 quotes that I think support your analysis of this:
"You don't live with me, you live among the remains of dead people. You sift through the detritus, you read the terrain, you search for signs of passing, for the scent of your prey, and then you hunt them down. That's the only thing you're committed to. The rest is the mess you leave as you pass through."
"the action IS the juice"
men that have been domesticated by modern life and these high stake heists are their rejection of it and their hunter-gatherer urges still trying to get out..
Absolutely iconic movie. A movie where even the sound design (the famous gunshots) is unforgettable. There won't be any more masterpieces like that coming from Hollywood.
Back in 1995 I remember seeing this in the theatre with a woman friend of mine. When the movie ended I felt like I had witnesses something marvellous and truly special. The first comment my friend said was "That was way too long..." which was followed up with "... it was okay I guess." I couldn't believe that we had seen the same movie! The movie literally had no impact on her and was simply an excuse to eat popcorn. I've seen the movie probably ten times since it originally was released and I 'get something out of it' every time.
Michael Mann allows his films to embody nihilistic realism. This was one of the last 'important movies' that was filmed/released before the internet became a thing for the masses to suckle upon neurally. That irony isn't lost on me. People didn't have their smartphones in their hands constantly dicking around with distraction after distraction flickering about on a shiny screen. Even something as simple as people talking around a table in a diner would have been different had the scene been in 2005. It's a shame that Mann's last film was terrible in a number of regard from an editing perspective. His 'creative voice' will be sorely missed.
I agreed that it was way too long, should’ve been a tight 1 hour 45 and would’ve gotten the point across better.
@@zachmedia9951 you’re crazy. Heat is one of the most perfect and important films of our time. 1 hour and 45 minutes would not nearly have been enough to capsulate this masterpiece of a film. Stick to watching Michael Bay movies.
Women will never understand
I remember when the credits rolled ... realizing I hadn't checked the time once throughout .. I'd seen something timeless and masterful. I said to myself "that's the most complete and perfect movie I've ever seen"
It's been years since I watched Heat. Just watched it again and one thing that really stood out to me is how eerily calm the whole atmosphere of the film is, it's just got that cool mid-90s everything is running smooth feeling to it. Like the bit where he goes to the guy in the wheel chair to get details on a job and as Robert walks away you get a big wide angle view of the LA (I think?) Highway in the background with everybody going about their daily life....while these days you half expect people to be laid across it for insulating houses or BLM banners hanging from the bridge.
The 90s really encapsulates the peak of society, in the matrix they say they chose the 90s as the setting because it was the height of modern society
Yes. In this way, Ridley Scott's portrayal of modern life in Blade Runner shows a dismal view of where things are leading. Constantly raining, everywhere you look you're bombarded by advertisements, and "science" has "progressed" to the point of creating Replicants -- instead of sorting out the psychological horrors created by "modern technology" and its effects on the environment (the constant rain & grey skies) and on human minds (the bombardments of advertisement). It's a pithy commentary offered by Rutger Hauer's dying monologue that brings all into focus, showing how futile technology is when it's given too much free rein over the human society it's supposed to enhance.
He was right!
Yes i totally get what your saying. It’s almost as if the 90s was the last great decade before it all went to s#^t. When L.A was a cool, slick city, when music and Movies were brilliant not like the Crap we see today and that L.A is now a shadow of its former self.
@@seanoneil277 true👍🏼
‘The best books tell you what you already know,’ is a quote from ‘1984.’ I have loved this move for 25 years and knew but couldn’t express why. Thank you, morgoth.
Exactly how I feel about Evola.
@@aceambling7685 happy October 20th.
How many of us have struggled with these issues. I remember telling an ex partner that a 3 bed semi with a white picket fence, and a mondeo on the drive was a nightmare that scared me more than anything.. she thought that was a goal to aim for.. I walked.
Hell on earth mate
... As a German Biologist - this is one of the rare Masterpieces I can watch again and appreciate each second. It is the essence of Impulse Control - the pure essence of Stoicism to always stay calm and composed. ARETE. Thank GOD it has zero effect - accelerating natural human self extinction. Incipit tragoedia - Nietzsche.
Brilliantly cut straight through the film with that sharp analysis. Can't believe it came out over twenty five years ago.
Even at 3 hours, it’s one of the tightest films you’ll ever see.
I watch this movie once every few years. I intentionally don’t watch it yearly so as to maintain that constant sense of anticipation/constant high one experiences when watching this movie. It’s been a few years…right about that time….perfect! Glad it’s not going to be one of these “I’m so smart that I think literally every movie ever made sucks” blowhards reviewing it.
you got me psyched up to watch it again man. great show alright.
Thanks for making my world feel a little less atomized, Morgoth. I'd have a pint with ya anytime.
Without doubt, the best shootout scene of any movie ever, in Heat. Some serious talent in that movie. And Al Pacino.
They captured the noise of real gunfire accurately and that's what sells it. When your in a area with multiple guns going off you can't hear shit. That what it felt like
Also, it was an ex-SAS guy that did the choreography.
It could have been better with men on motorbikes firing gattling guns - that would have been profound.
The heist film with 50 cent and Gerard Butler had a better one, they didn’t just have expendable mags. Would be a better movie too if it wasn’t for the shithouse twist at the end
@@hunkyhaggis2161 Was that the " Once a Pilgrim" bloke?
Beautiful, per usual of your videos. Another scene that adds to your overall thesis is when the gang is deciding to press forward, following the platinum debacle (Amaaaaaazing scene). Neil goes to each person, and when he comes to Sizemore's character, Michael, he doesn't reward loyalty ("I'm with you, Neil, Whatever..."), but instead presses Michael to make an objective decision. Michael responds in the most peak-yet-underplayed Tom Sizemore scene we've ever gotten, "For me, the action is the juice. I'm in."
Even after Neil runs down all that Michael had attained to that point, and my, how impressive it all was (indeed, for most normies, Michael had won and achieved everything), still, it was "the action" and "the juice" that made all the sense in the world to Michael and the rest of the gang. Not the rewards every organization man was promised could be his.
Precisely, he is the most simplistic, yet down to earth character in the movie, he knows what he wants, he goes and gets it.
@10:00 what you are describing here is a concept called Depressive realism, it is the hypothesis developed by Lauren Alloy and Lyn Yvonne Abramson[ that depressed individuals make more realistic inferences than non-depressed individuals. Although depressed individuals are thought to have a negative cognitive bias that results in recurrent, negative automatic thoughts, maladaptive behaviors, and dysfunctional world beliefs, depressive realism argues not only that this negativity may reflect a more accurate appraisal of the world but also that non-depressed individuals' appraisals are positively biased.
Optimism, is cowardice
One of the handful of movies I've also watched repeatedly. It is far beyond mere entertainment. It is deadly serious intelligent stuff.
The scene in the diner between Pacino and De Niro, is one of the greatest in cinema. Hanna (Pacino) and McCauley (De Niro) are clearly alter-egos and their mutual nemeses - “allow nothing to be in your life that you cannot walk out on in thirty seconds flat if you spot the heat around the corner”….
Told you it was on the way
@@MorgothsReview1 Love this film. I rewatched it again during the endless lockdown here - it’s lost none of it’s impact. Michael Mann was on a roll in the 90’s - Last of the Mohican’s in 1992, then this masterpiece. Followed by The Insider in 1999 which garnered Mann himself an Oscar nomination. I miss the days of going to the cinema…
What if you spot ‘heat’ sitting opposite you telling you he’s going to arrest you? Would you walk out then?
@@BigBenn2014 Good question….
@@BigBenn2014 Have a very big gun pointed at him under the table, and make sure he knows that if he tries something, you'll recreate the the scene in Star Wars with Han Solo and Greedo, only there won't be a debate over who shot first
20hrs to go. And here I'm chomping at the bits already.
Heat is a sublime masterpiece. Morgoth’s insights reveal its hidden treasures.
One of the best (if not THE best) shootouts in movie history.
This one and Ronin car chase are tied in the first place.
@@jaspergransoren4404 Best car chase is undoubtedly To Live and Die in LA (1985)
@@borisnegrarosa9113 Car chase will always be Ronin for me. I think the dude who created the car chase in Ronin went to work on Bourne's trilogy.
In fairness, Morgoth, Apocalypse Now is long and fatigueing. It's meant to be that way because war is long and fatigueing. The travel up the river is slow, brutal, and exhausting, which is more than likely an important objective for that film (and certainly met).
Rambo has is much easier on the soul. Understandable that you would more often find yourself in the mood for a fun Rambo re-watch than the emotionally draining and far more accurate depiction of war presented in Apocalypse Now.
Strangely I find Apocalypse Now much more engaging than Rambo 2, First Blood on the other hand is another story, but even then I've only watched First Blood maybe 5 times, versus the 30+ times I've watched the Apocalypse Now Redux. For me Apocalypse Now is an almost psychedelic journey into the depths of my own psyche. I have a rather obsessive attachment to the film. I see myself, my inner self, in Willard; face painted and half naked rising from the river waters with death in his heart.
@@aceambling7685 It's one of the best movies ever made imo, but 30 times, wow! What's that in months/weeks/days/hours?
@@runreilly after some rough math it's somewhere around 100 hours, not entirely with full attention. Needless to say I know the film frame by frame and word by word. That's watching the Redux, which has an extra 49 minutes of footage. On my first few watches it was absolutely hypnotizing. Even still it engages some kind of primal force in my reptile brain whilst simultaneously stimulating my conscious meditations.
Moby's version of Joy Divisions New Dawn Fades kicks arse
Myth of the 20th Century podcast uses it for their intro
I like too and I’m a joy division fan
Beautiful, substantial, and based analysis, my friend.
Ooh, I have to watch this again now, it’s been many years. Shoutout to the heist theme by Brian Eno!
Force Marker. great piece of music, and such a good scene
@@w00dyblack indeed. There’s video somewhere of him playing parts of it back in the studio while explaining the process of sampling.
@@stormthecat7395 Yes, he’s one of my absolute favourites. I listen to one or other of his ambient works every day and have done so for years, usually on repeat for a few hours.. love his «pop/rock» records from the 70s too.
@@Vingul Just been listening to _Beauty Queen_ followed by _In Every Dream Home A Heartache,_ Eno is a genius
King's lead hat.
High-end stuff, Morgoth.
Thanks mate
Apparently there is a book coming out which prequels the film. I can't wait to read it.
Heat is Amazing film, beautiful, noir, in decaying LA mid 90s
Oh man, I cannot wait for this.
I wanted to do this one for a long time.
I've always named Heat as one of my favourites. Love it. And yes, I find it hard to tolerate De Niro these days.
Michael Douglas in Falling Down is another atomized individual
Exactly Morgoth @9:48: The solution to individualized atomization isn't more individualism, it's re-molecularization.
In a better movie, Vincent (Pacino) and Neil (DeNiro) would've identified eachother as fellow travelers on the same path after the diner scene: two demigods looking for meaning in a intractably nihilistic world. They could've formed a pincer attack with Neil doing the dirty work from the bottom, as Neil aids him from the top and feeds him the Waingro garbage to be dealt with. The lack of this relationship between the overworld and the underworld in real life is both tragic and perplexing; again atomization even separates the gods from forming pantheons.
Absolutely loved this film. Haven't seen it in over a decade. Though De Niro is an absolute asshole in real life, he is great in this. Which reminds me, Morgoth, have you ever thought about doing 'Midnight Run'?
That's one of my favourite films when I had it on VHS... I'll have to search for it on dvd if still available
Well it's right here on YT full length, why? because it's as dull up it's own arse ditchwater and no more money forthcoming because of that fact.
@@jeffebdy why don’t you just download it off the internet and watch it? Can’t believe you still have a DVD player. Thought those things had died out years ago😂
A wonderful counterpart that I highly recommend to Heat fans is Safe (1995), starring Julianne Moore as arguably the Atomized Woman, unraveling in her own home from invisible paranoias, “allergic to the 20th Century”. It also stars Ralph (actor Xander Berkeley) as a kind of idealized Atomized Man
New subscriber here - very interesting analysis, I always felt that De Niro's character ultimately failed to uphold his code because his need for revenge was the one attachment he couldn't leave behind
Always did feel a strong connection to de niro's character in this film. Your analysis and the state of the modern world have made me understand why.
Has anyone made a movie about a character overcoming atomization?
Dances With Wolves
The Last Samurai
Yes man
Great film, Pacino when he walks in on them both 😂, gf watched for first time couple of weeks ago first time she loved it.
You're in for treat with this, I have that scene in the video
@@MorgothsReview1 nice one mate, pretty much spot on with your take of this place
Powerful analysis of a powerful movie Morgoth. Almost brought a tear to my eye at the awareness of my own atomization.
I find cities whos streets are all just a perfect grid to be awful for feelings.
It's because it's not natural. If you look at anything that occurs naturally in the world, there are very few things which are made up of straight lines.
I thought of this movie for years. I watched it as a teenager in the late 1990s. It always stuck with me. I watched it recently and remembered why. It’s a fantastic movie.
Great work Morgoth. Thank you. Heat is far and away my favourite film of all time.
The fate of both men are intertwined and diametrically opposed in time, it is a race against the clock because both men are really close to get what they want. You can use Zizek's analysis of desire to explain.
What De Niro's character secretly desires is to get out, but he thinks that the only way to get out is by doing one or two more jobs. This is what he think he needs(money), this is De Niro's living a fake life same as everyone else. He keeps telling himself that what he wants is the money, that it will buy him a happy ever after, but he is always _ready to leave_ he says. So why doesn't he leave?
Because that would give him what he secretly desires(get out and live a happy life with someone he loves). So instead he finds endless ways of sabotaging it, not only by doing the heists, but also in that moralist crusade against people he doesn't care, for people that are not important to him and things that would not matter in his new life.
Pacino's on the other hand, what he secretly desires is to mend the relationship with his estranged daughter and wife(secret real desire), to live a normal grid life(with his TV) and that is being made possible by De Niro's crew. So he "says" he can't do it, the bad guy is out there, so all he has to do is to get this ONE more baddie. So he goes out of his way to chase De Niro, chasing his fake desire all along because his greatest fear would be to get what he really wanted.
So according to Zizek's analysis, happiness is just around the corner for them. But since "we pretend to desire things which we do not really desire. So ultimately, the worst thing that can happen to us is to get what we officially desire."
Fantastic movie. Absolute masterpiece and well acted.
The Moby track is a thing of beauty. Great video as always Morgoth.
Word has it that Heat is the favorite movie in prisons. When it comes on, everyone drops everything to watch.
As always, your analysis is incredible. Thank you Mr. Morg!
My favorite movie of all-time, thanks for this!
Another triumph of insight into modern man's soul. I admire your ability to graft together seemingly separate concepts into one cohérent observation. You truly have a beautiful mind morgoth.
I just thinking about Heat the other day for some reason. Funny how that works. Cant wait to listen. Blessings from Illinois.
This was fantastic. Thanks, mate!
I'm talking to an empty telephone
Best video you’ve done for me this one. Find myself coming back to it.
I wanted to thank you for this analysis and the book you mentioned for the overall setting the stage of the movie and the modern world we live in. I have watched this move probably 6-8 and introduced to almost everyone in my life including girlfriends. I could never explain why I felt such an attachment and you sir explained it more elegantly than I ever could. Thank you and God Bless!
Great commentary. Always has been one of my favourite movies from a young age but I never really knew why. Now I do.
Found the De Nero character incredibly charismatic but deeply troubled with this being complemented by the soundtrack and cinematography.
De Niro's is the most problematic one. He has everything he could ever need, but can't get away from it.
Neil McCauley was a real person. He spent most of his life in prison. 8 years in Alcatraz, including 4 in solitary confinement.
The story is inspired by a real pursuit of a real robber. The cop, Chuck Adamson, did actually meet McCauley over coffee.
Thank you so much for this, Morgoth. Your review of this movie was precisely what I was looking for . . . to have someone explain to me, that which, I couldn't articulate in my own thoughts, and feelings associated with the empathy I have for the character of Niel Mccully, despite his criminality, and violation of my own moral code . Your perspective on the themes of this movie has more depth than every review, or discussion offered by anyone on this film. I might just buy you a pint, for helping me to understand myself a little better.
About as sophisticated an analysis as one could have. Very impressive, mate.
Masterpiece of a film. Rewatched the shootout scene several times in anticipation - this is going to be neat.
this was a fav movie of mine back in the day. not seen it for a while though. will be interesting to see your take on it
I love it.
Listened to your planet of the apes chat yesterday and was planning on that being my Friday night movie but now it might be heat. Spending the next few hours stressing on this big decision.
_”Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat, if you feel the _*_HEAT_*_ around the corner.”_
Don’t stress… watch Heat.
Absolutely amazing analysis. You touched on and eloquently explained many thoughts and feeling I have when I watch this movie but im no good at explaining my thoughts so thank you for this. Love it
As usual, thank you Morgoth. And thanks for being you. 👍
A really REALLY good analysis of my favourite movie of all time. I have lost count the amount of times I’ve watched it, and over the years it reveals more and more layers to the onion, between masculine archetypes, both healthy and toxic, and the thin line between criminal and cop. This essay gives me yet another frame to enjoy, glean insight and reflect on - the fact we are victims of the grid and it’s outputs, and consequences of reorganising society in such a way. I lived in LA for 2 years, and have been considering going back…this essay gives me pause for thought, and encourages me to ask a deeper question about what my wants and needs as a recovering atomized man truly are. Thank you so much!
Looking forward to this! After the superb review of Lovecraft this should be good! I think you’d like Houllebecq...
Loved it! Cracking analysis....Michel De Certeau came to mind with the framework of reference of Martin and as an antithetical antidote.....and as a lad from the Toon the Northern tones show we got out finger on the pulse up here 😉
The call to adventure, a thirst which cannot be sated in the metaverse, nor in any of the incrementally more ersatz realities which have preceded it.
what a beautiful commentary ,good stuff.
A classic.
Agreed. Both the movie and this video.
McCauley going back to get Waingro at the end of the movie is not the first time he breaks his own rule of walking away when the heat is on - he went back to save Chris during the shootout. It was established then that his gang was important to him, so him going after Waingro is not a surprise or out of character.
Similar vibe in Michael Mann's earlier film "Thief" starring James Caan
If they're such a high IQ team of engineers and mechanics in 1995.... why didn't they just invest in Google and Apple stock and become multi-billionaire hedge-fund quants?
Google wasn’t founded until 98 and wasn’t remotely first in the search space.
Apple was going slowly bankrupt in 95, Jobs didn’t come back until 97.
But keep going, you’re hilarious.
Most good movies have a couple of things going for it.....actors ,writing. music .production .location, etc.........Heat has it all........
As much as I hate Robert De Niro, I cannot deny that he's in a lot of my favorite movies.
Controversial, but I prefer Michael Mann’s The Insider. I think it’s a slightly superior film. But Heat is fantastic.
Incorrect
completely different though
Brilliant analysis. I'll be sure to watch this one. It's hard after all to find films post 2000 worth watching, though there are some.
so very true - watch Miami Vice too
@@malthus101 Will do. Thanks for the recommend.
Collateral is really good too.
probably an unpopular opinion in this comment section but I think the grid is quite a cool phenomenon. I dont think it should replace the entire countryside ofc but I think the logic inherent in a grid speaks to the logic inherent in a civilization, and of course where did the grid first develop in the world? Architecture has always spoken for us in many ways and the grid is part of our story, but with the way cities are going, I wouldn't take the organizational grid as a given anymore...
Just wanted to say this was an excellent review. This movie could never be made today, too much toxic masculinity for normies. What a sad state of affairs for the Hetero-white male.
Quality movie. Quality video Morgoth thanks for posting.
Didn't know this film.
Watched it.
Watched your commentary.
Thank you so much
so lucky to have seen it for the first time! hope it was on a big screen with great loud audio.
@@malthus101 unfortunately it was in 720p on a computer
But I'm going to buy a DVD copy
Damn my buddies and I were just about to get together to watch it. Awesome timing
Is it that McAwley breaks his own rule by going back for Waingrove? And so basically "breaks" his "deal" with the "devil"?
Note that Kilmers wife would be tossed out but uses their baby against him. It's a boy.
Had never seen this movie before, good stuff, great analysis.
When you're getting shot at, bullets make all sorts of typical noises.
The shoot out scene was recorded on location using blanks.
Imo they should have recorded those weapons being shot at the materials depicted and used that on top of the location audio from the scene in the movie.
Otherwise it's a memorable scene and a solid movie, I just thought they really missed a trick.
It's coming out in 4k bluray very soon. Hands down best shootout in cinema and my top 3 movies ever. Also best ending ever with Mobys God Moving over thr waters in a masterpiece.
What are your other two?
@@patrickleary4330 A River Runs through it and Shawshank Redemption
@@niciassmith1204 Shawshank’s my #2 (after Heat). Don’t even know what A River Runs Through It is- will have to check it out.
@@patrickleary4330 Shawshanks major plothole spoils it for me.
@@gj3367 which plothole?
A couple of months ago I was channel hopping and Heat had just started on sky movies. I intended to just leave it on in the background whilst I tidied up but instead I was transfixed for the entire runtime. I had seen it before but that on that last viewing I enjoyed it more than ever before. It is as close to a perfect film as you can get.
Nice one Morgoth.
Great analysis. Watched the movie in black and white once by accident, worth doing for a different perspective.
I should give that a try
Mann, on what he rated as the 5th greatest movie ever: "Avatar is a brilliant synthesis of mythic tropes, with debts to Lévi-Strauss and Frazier’s The Golden Bough. It soars because, simply, it stones and transports you."
I was just talking about this movie and the differences between it and older gangster movies.