Rojo
Heat. Mann. Masculinity.
When studying the extent of masculinity through professionalism in Michael Mann’s films one can not look past Heat and it’s two protagonists. In McCauley and Hanna (De Niro, Pacino) we are ostensible given the same man in the guise of polar opposites, one a criminal void of attachments, one a cop who though he has formed attachments sacrifices them for his profession. Both men are at the acme of there respective professions and because of this it is natural for us to mistake there masculinity to be sourced from there professionalism. Mann is deeper than this, though it is right to assume that to a large extent masculinity is defined by professionalism it is not all encompassing, Mann is concerned by the consequences of ones actions, what happens when one is not true to ones self, a lack of professionalism and the out come of this not only on one masculinity and it definitions, but more importantly what will begin to define there masculinity once emotion enters into the equation. Mann is attempting to go deeper than a simple case of “this guys professionalism shows he is a man” but more this is what can influence what one deems to be manly, his crowning comment in regards to this is I feel that one must remain true to themselves to survive.
“If you are going to make moves on the street have no attachments, allow nothing to be in you’re life that you can not walk out on in 15 seconds flat if you spot the heat coming around the corner”.
A powerful and unrealistic credo that Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) lives by, an allusion to his inherit masculinity through his professionalism and attitude, one that he will break once he allows attachments to enter into his life, and through this Mann suggests that masculinity whilst illustrated by professionalism is not fully defined by it.
In a conversation with Hanna, McCauley revels that he feels as though he is running out of time, life to him is void of meaning, the extent of McCauley’s masculinity through professionalism is beginning to fade, replaced by his need for love. With the meeting of Edey, McCauley’s world of risk management and isolation is agitated, Mann is suggesting that McCauley’s masculinity through professionalism is immense but not all encompassing. We are shown that once emotion and attachment enter into ones life one of sterile professionalism, it begins to re-define the source of masculinity. This is illustrated in McCauley’s actions after he has met Edey, he is aware that the heat is on him “assume they have our homes, our phone, us standing here as we speak” and going by his credo he should have left LA, but a want for a new life one that includes attachment his actions and therefore his masculinity begins to be redefined. McCauley would never have gone for the bank knowing the heat was so close, and as for tracking down Waingro would never have happened. It makes me think of an episode of Seinfeld, Jerry allows himself to get mad but as he experiences one emotion he is force to feel them all, as is the case of McCauley once he takes the step towards love he can never go back, the full extent on McCauley’s masculinity is therefore defined by his commitment to what he wants.
“All I am is what I’m going after”. This statement defines Hanna (Pacino) but if we look at Hanna in an omnipotent way as Mann would we begin to read his role in Mann’s comment on masculinity. Hanna is the one who remains true to himself by sacrificing his marriage, and it is Hanna whom lives. If we examine Hanna’s professionalism we must break it down into two compartments. First as a cop he is quiet un-professional, he seems to be on cocaine, he struts around crime scenes like he is cock of the roost, he make jokes over the deceased guards, he engages in a gun battle in the streets of LA, he will pursue his prey without back-up. These factors could be argued for or against his professionalism, on one hand he is doing all the above with a objective in mind, the capturing of his prey on the other he is not acting as a cop should. A professional cop will call for back up before heading into a deadly gun battle, a professional cop will ensure the publics safety first and foremost instead Hanna plunges head first into a gun battle, it is not until he is forced to guard the public does he do so, (his moving closer to the heist scene ushering people out of harms way in my opinion is not enough, he could have tailed the getaway car and taken them at a safer destination). If we look at Hanna as a hunter not just a cop we will see that his masculinity through professionalism is like McCauley is immense. All his actions spring from the want to capture his prey, and is willing to sacrifice all in his life to achieve this. This is the difference between Hanna and McCauley, Hanna remains true to himself, he does not try to fix his relationship, instead walks away from it knowing he will never change, knowing that all he is what he is going after, and it is this that is key in defining his masculinity, and it is this that separate him from McCauley and ultimately determines his survival and McCauley’s death.
The extent of masculinity from professionalism in Mann’s Heat on a surface level is immense, in both Hanna and McCauley. It is not until we read deeper into these characters do we see that whilst the extent is large it is not all, especially in the case of McCauley. With regards to Hanna we can see that most of his masculinity springs forth from his professionalism but in the case of Hanna his professionalism is hard to see through his actions, with McCauley it is hard to see past his professionalism, his emotion and actions due to this aren’t so lucid. Mann is tricking us into thinking that the extent of masculinity through professionalism is all encompassing but in reality there are so many little facets that make up his character masculinity that we need to look deep into these characters and examine there actions with regards to there work and how it affects those around them. Mann shows us that when one no longer remains true to ones self they will perish and there masculinity actually springs from this remaining true rather than how good they are to taking down scores or stopping those who take down scores.
As this is more an essay there is no review except this is one of the best films I have seen
i really must watch the movie though