Religious Motifs in Heat: Angles Used to Juxtapose Positions of Power (The Coffee Shop)

Heat Coffee Shop Scene (Scene is movie history! Amazing scene!)

The Coffee Shop Scene is powerful and peaceful at the same time. It also highlights Michael Mann's ability to present two fairly famous actors and not have them outdo each other to satisfy their own egos. It is a tranquil scene. 

Heat (1995) Coffee Shop (Historical Scene) HD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E82UcXTsbOE 

In this scene, Al Pacino is flying in a helicopter. A helicopter is an aerial vehicle, so we can assume Al Pacino is using the heavens to find Robert De Niro. Al Pacino descends from the heavens to the Earth to pursue Robert De Niro, that is, God. 

To add to the religious feel of this movie, Al Pacino's helicopter is white, and it has a bright light that is turned on, and attached to it. Angels are often associated with the color white as well as bright light.

Al Pacino finally gets in a car and to pursue God played by Robert De Niro, Al Pacino uses a black car. Contrast the black car that travels on the ground with the white helicopter that travels through the heavens. 

Al Pacino finally reaches Robert De Niro, and pulls him over. This is one of a few instances when Al Pacino is looking down at Robert De Niro as if Al Pacino was watching Robert De Niro misbehave from the heavens above.

They proceed to the coffee shop to engage in mutual conversation. This scene is one of the few instances where Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are both sitting at eye level. Throughout this movie, either Robert De Niro is above Al Pacino, or Al Pacino is above Robert De Niro. I think this was done on purpose to create contrast between the two characters.

God's life, that is, Robert De Niro's life, although he is a criminal with an extensive criminal history, seems to prefer the quiet life such as eating at diners, drinking coffee, and going to bookstores. He even appears to get a girlfriend in this movie.

Al Pacino's life, that is, the angel that caught God in the act of being evil, appears to have a very hectic life full of marriage and divorce with no sense of tranquility. Al Pacino is always busy. Robert De Niro is not always busy. A very interesting contrast. I think this type of character build is a Michael Mann quirk.

Heat does a good job of using flying aircraft such as helicopters and airplanes at just the right time in a movie. Both aircraft fly and they give a sense of lifting people or carrying people into and through the heavens.

To be continued.