Heat (1986)

I thought I would follow up ”Malone” with the film Reynolds made the previous year. I must get my hands on the UK DVD, which supposedly has a different ending. Because the tact on happy ending here totally destroyed the impact of a certain emoting sequence. But anyway that is ”Heat" for ya - a very jarring and unfocused mixture of interchangeable plot threads, offbeat quirks and fluctuating mood swings going from light-heartiness to brooding hard-edge physicality. 

Loner, ex-mercenary Nick Escalante hires himself out as a bodyguard / chaperone on the neon-lit streets of Las Vegas, but he actually dreams of a better life. But he's compulsion of working the casinos holds him back from that. But soon his life becomes a deadly gamble when he helps out his ex-girlfriend who turns up beaten, asking for help in getting revenge on her attacker - Danny DeMarco; son of a mobster. But in between that he finds himself chaperoning a meek businessman who simply wants to learn how to defend himself.



”Heat" might be considered one of Burt Reynold's lesser achievements, as this once bankable star started the slide in the mid-80s, but even though it does have its issues, there are moments where a slumming Reynolds provides effortless charm. While not in huge slabs, you could say it’s dry and lackadaisical in what is a glum, if meditative character piece dealing with our protagonist's lost ambitions and gambling addiction. Still these hiccups won't stop the character dreaming about his desirable escape to Venice. The dream of Venice, is pretty much a dream, despite the opportunities of living it out. He blows chances, one after another to be stuck in a rut and lost in a crime cesspool. So yeah it can be gloomy, sort of dark, but there’s a certain positivity in its script wanting to always the break the ice. One thing you can count on, being that the protagonist is an ex-mercenary - it doesn't entirely scrap the violence, as it does pack a few, very brutal and badass encounters where Reynolds goes on to show how lethal credit cards can be?! It's a sight to behold. Actually the entire sequence was spectacularly done. Intense and good use of slow motion. But it doesn’t just stop there. Other times it can be laughable, in a “you got to be kidding me” reaction, yet you can’t fault the creativity and resourcefulness, especially when he takes out some goons in the film's frenetic climatic stages.

After a beginning which will have you scratching your head, the narrative demonstrates plenty of these scenarios. Larger-than-life characters come and go, and it was hard to tell where it was heading. I guess more so if you haven’t read the book the film is adapted off? The script can be thoughtful in its character exchanges, but at the same time these distractions can meander slowing up the central story. Although I didn't find it boring and some of the dialogues are priceless. I found the interactions between Reynolds and Peter MacNicol quite enjoyable too. The cast outside of Reynolds are quite capable with the likes of Karen Yung, Howard Hessman, Diana Scarwid, Joseph Mascolo and Neill Barry perfectly adding a callous smarminess to his hot-headed, wet behind the ears bad guy.



Director Dick Richards' lean handling is workman-like without being particularly exciting and it breathes a cheap made for TV quality. Some moments work, others feel awkward. The Las Vegas locations are put to good use, as the brimming nightlife tells its own story and a real saucy vibe comes from the film’s soundtrack.

”Heat” is nothing more than a durable star vehicle to pass the time. Sometimes it can be overly talky, but when it livens up you’re in for a treat. The novel was again adapted to film in the Jason Statham starring “Wild Card” (2015).

★★★/★★★★★