heat is great movie mainly because it, so eloquently, describes the daily highs and lows of a mastermind criminal group and an even more mastermind police captain. it offers better action scenes that scarface (minus all the horrid computer music and a superfluous supporting cast), more interesting daily life than godfather (minus the unnecessary third one), and just as many interesting character to root for as goodfellas. plus it is the only de niro/pacino movie where they attempt to shoot each other before you want to shoot yourself