Heat is considered to be one of the greatest crime films of all time, and the best Heat quotes see some of the best actors of their generation carry the movie to even greater heights. The Michael Mann classic brilliantly and epically details the lives of those on opposite sides of the law who are put on a collision course with each other. Along with some thrilling action sequences and tense moments, the film is filled with great dialogue and memorable lines. Nearly three decades after its release, Heat still stands up as a crime film masterpiece.
Heat also boasts an impressive cast, with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as the leads. As a result, some of the best Heat quotes were immediately cemented into cinematic history. Though the team that brought this story of cops and robbers to life have all gone on to do other acclaimed projects, this film remains a highlight in all of their careers. Along with the electrifying set pieces that the movie is known for, the best Heat quotes keep the story engaging at every turn with one-liners, insightful observations about life, and rare moments of levity.
One of the subplots in Heat revolves around Neil McCauley and his crew getting double-crossed in a deal with a money launderer named Van Zant. Unfortunately for Van Zant, he doesn’t know how dangerous these men are. After the deal goes wrong, McCauley calls Van Zant, who is surprised to hear him alive but tries to play it cool. He asks McCauley what he’s doing and McCauley replies with this sobering promise.
In a movie filled with tough guys, De Niro makes McCauley the most intimidating with his ice-cold delivery of lines like this. He speaks calmly and directly, showing that he is a man in complete control, which makes his threat all the more menacing. The look on Van Zant’s face when McCauley hangs up makes the moment all the more memorable as there is an immediate realization of how badly he messed up and how much trouble he is in now.
Heat is a very serious film with most of its characters living empty and unhappy lives. However, there are moments of humor throughout the story, most of them coming from Pacino as the unhinged yet professional detective Vincent Hanna. While Vincent is focused on taking down this latest gang of robbers, his marriage begins falling apart which might not sound like very funny material, but it gives Pacino opportunities to do his unpredictable and fun performance.
This leads to an uncomfortable confrontation when he comes home to find his wife with another man. Vincent confronts the confused man as he sits on the couch and tells him he doesn’t mind if he sleeps with his wife, but watching his television is where he draws the line. In a way, it is a vulnerable moment for Hanna as it is clear he doesn’t know how to react to the situation and decides to fixate on the TV or all things.
McCauley has an intriguing personality as it’s shown early on how willing he is to kill to avoid getting caught, but the movie then explores him as a more complex character, particularly in a burgeoning relationship with a young woman named Eady. The relationship gives further insight into McCauley as he becomes slightly more vulnerable. When asked if he gets lonely in his solitary life, McCauley points out there is a difference between being alone and lonely, which speaks to his detached view of the world.
There is a sense that he feels he doesn’t need people in his life and maintains a cold persona that allows him to cut ties whenever the need arises. Even in this relationship with Eady which he begins to feel is important to him, he ultimately shows that he can leave her as well if it’s necessary. It makes it all the more sad when McCauley asks her the same question and she admits she is lonely.
As Vincent, Pacino’s performance ranges from calm and collected to wild and over-the-top, adding a compelling unpredictability. Though the wild aspects of the character are never distracting, it does spice up certain scenes. In one scene, Vincent is confronting one of his informants, who has been neglecting his duties. Pacino is completely unleashed in this scene, yelling his lines with frenetic energy.
Once again, his co-stars in the scene seem utterly shocked by the outbursts, which makes the scene all the more hilarious. Given the amount Pacino reportedly improvised in the movie, this seems like another such moment. Interestingly, decades after the film was released, Pacino and director Michael Mann admitted there was cut material that showed Hanna used cocaine to psyche himself up for the job, which explains his sometimes erratic behavior (via Variety).
Neil McCauley’s crew of professional thieves is highly professional and effective. However, one new member, Waingro, proves to be a liability. During an armor car heist, Waingro loses his cool and executes a guard, leading to two more deaths. As the team meets afterward, Waingro knows the others are not happy with him. He lies and says the guard was making a move and explains, “I had to get it on.”
It’s a memorable line followed by a very memorable beating dished out by McCauley, slamming his head into the table and showing that he doesn’t accept that excuse at all. Throughout the movie, Waingro likes to strut around and talk as if he’s the ultimate outlaw. Even his line “I had to get it on” seems like he is positioning himself as some sort of gunslinger. Within seconds, McCauley makes any sense of his tough guy persona disappear.
This simple Heat quote kicks off one of the most memorable movie scenes in history. Vincent tracks Neil down in his car. Both men have their guns at the ready, but then Vincent suggests they get a cup of coffee together. Seeing these two acting legends sharing a scene is thrilling enough, but they bring the A-game to this moment.
The movie builds to this moment in a very effective way, understanding the excitement of seeing these two men in a scene together. The scene of Hanna chasing down McCauley and pulling him over is filled with tension and the audience knows either man would kill the other without hesitation. The way that tension is broken with this unexpected one from Hanna takes the moment in a terrific direction that is much more interesting than a shootout. According to Slash Film, Mann didn’t want the two actors rehearsing the scene before filming, which ultimately paid off.
The iconic diner scene in Heat is not just about seeing two powerhouse actors performing. It is a gripping moment as these two men on opposite sides of the law, who are heading towards a collision course, realize that they are not so different. They get surprisingly personal very quickly, discussing their dreams with Hanna even talking about his failed marriage and issues at home.
McCauley is understandably more guarded, but he does give insight into how he approaches his life. As McCauley and Hanna speak frankly about their lives, Hanna asks McCauley the obvious question: did he ever want a normal life? McCauley dismisses that as “barbecues and ball games” and it’s clear Hanna feels the same way. De Niro and Pacino are truly irreplaceable in their roles.
The cat-and-mouse game between Neil and Vincent is one of the more thrilling aspects of Heat. Both men and their respective teams are highly skilled at their jobs, which makes them formidable adversaries. McCauley discovers they are the target of an investigation and that the police have eyes on them. However, while he is taken by surprise, he ensures that he can turn the tables on his pursuers.
Vincent and his team track Neil’s crew to a location and overhear them discussing a job. Vincent and the police go over the area, trying to understand what the target is. Suddenly, Vincent realizes they are the targetsand Neil is watching them. He begrudgingly gives admiration to his enemy and admits, “We just got made.” It is a terrific moment where Hanna and his men discover that their adversary is not the common criminal and will be a worthy opponent for them.
With all the excitement of the shootouts and the heist sequences, it’s easy to forget that Heat is a simple story about two men doing their jobs. McCauley and Hanna do not see their roles as an epic battle but take a rather matter-of-fact approach to the situation as people who have found what they do best and pursue it. McCauley addresses the differences that could lead to them killing each other but hardly gives it more thought than that.
He talks as if there’s no choice, and they should both just play the hands that they’ve been dealt. They are on a path now and there is no sense in trying to avoid the inevitable conclusion. Heat can be a very philosophical movie at times, and quotes like these highlight its simple kind of wisdom.