“Heat” dream competition! Al Pacino VS Robert De Niro: What is the method used by master master Michael Mann to capture the great performances of two major stars on film?

“Performance of the gaze” that tells everything

In fact, in addition to the bust shot of the two, a bird's-eye view and two shots were also taken. However, those cuts were ultimately not used. Mann chose a simple editing structure that shows alternating bust shots. This process gave rise to suspicions that the two actors' performance was fake, but director Mann had a clear intention.

"The two played their roles in harmony with each other. Robert changed his posture, tilted his head, and changed his facial expressions little by little. Al acted in response. There was a unique harmony in each take. It felt like there was a natural flow.The editor and I were the ones who understood that scene the most because we watched every take in detail.By showing them alternately, the two actors' performances blended together. I used Take 11 for

Director Mann placed emphasis on the ``line of sight.'' Al Pacino and Robert De Niro repeatedly look at each other and look away as they exchange lines. I wanted to express the fact that they come to understand that they are similar to each other due to the difference in timing and angle.

In order to make the most of her ``gaze acting,'' Mann didn't hesitate to throw away two-shot shots or overhead shots, and composed this scene with only tight shots of her bust that clearly show her facial expressions. This was a method chosen out of necessity in order to create a successful scene in which two men from diametrically opposed positions communicate through a simple conversation.

“Heat” (C)2017 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Neil (De Niro) and Vincent (Pacino) have different positions: criminal and police, pursuer and chased, but the line between them is vague. When you watch ``Heat,'' you get the illusion that the two have been friends for a long time. Men whose relationships with their lovers and families are not going well, and who are obsessed with completing their tasks and sticking to their style. Michael Mann depicts the emotional exchange between men who can only truly feel life on the road to such destruction. What made this possible was the ``acting of the gaze'' that the two major actors showed in their clashing performances.

Text: Tetsuya Inagaki

TV director. My personal goal is to realize a documentary project that depicts the obsessions of manga and movie creators. Programs he has directed in the past include ``Gekiga The Godfather : The Man Who Revolutionized Manga'' (WOWOW) and ``Takeshi's Birth: Master of Oira and Asakusa'' (NHK). Currently, he is planning a documentary about a famous manga artist.

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Heat production 20th anniversary edition <2 disc set>

Released on March 3, 2017 (currently on sale) Suggested retail price ¥5,980 + tax

(C)2017 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved.