Heat By Michael Mann Character Analysis

The crime drama ‘Heat’ (Mann) tells the story of a criminal, Neil, and a cop, Vincent. One is content, calm, and has a budding love interest. The other is unhappy, brash, and is at the end of his third marriage. In any other movie, the first description would characterize Vincent and the second would represent Neil. ‘Heat’ flips these roles and makes the criminal behave like a cop and the cop act criminal. Michael Mann, the director of ‘Heat’, chooses to portray these characters as opposites to show that the way society thinks about cops and criminals is incorrect. Mann utilizes various film techniques during the film to show how cops and criminals are more similar than different. Mann utilizes screen direction and blocking to show how cops and criminals are not that different. ‘Heat’, following a three-act …show more content…
But, due to Michael Mann’s excellent control of film techniques he can make a compelling argument. Cops and criminals, despite what society, are not that different. By using screen direction and blocking, camera movements and shot lengths, a specific camera lens for the aspect ratio, Mann can show in ‘Heat’ that cops and criminals are just doing their jobs. By having Vincent act criminal and Neil act like a cop, Mann shows that not all cops and criminals follow the stereotypes society applies to them. Mann exemplifies this unison in the final scene when Neil is going to kill his ex-partner. When Neil enters the hotel, he grabs a security guards jacket. When Neil puts the jacket on it is Mann showing that cops and criminals can be the same. ‘Heat’ is not supposed to be Mann arguing that criminals are good and cops are bad, but something entirely different. Mann argues that not all cops are the hero society thinks they are and some criminals are not violent delinquents. They are all, cops and criminals, just doing their