A Reel 30 and 25: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990) and HEAT (1995)

This month marks significant anniversaries of two films that are often regarded as some of the best works of their respective directors; the 30^th anniversary of Tim Burton’s EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, and the 25^th anniversary of Michael Mann’s HEAT. 

In December of 1990, Tim Burton would release his fourth feature film, the fantasy/romance film EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. His own take on the classic Frankenstein story, ED told the story of the artificial humanoid Edward (Johnny Depp), who lived life unfinished after the untimely death of his creator (Vincent Price). Ed is taken into the home of Peg (Dianne Wiest), where Ed begins an unlikely romance with her daughter Kim (Winona Ryder). 

A strange and unusual film, ED found his roots when Burton was a teenager, who sketched a character with sharp blades for fingers…a reflection of his feelings of isolation at the time. Years later, after his name skyrocketed to the status of A-list director after his success with BATMAN (1989), Burton was able to have his ED project greenlit. Working with writer Caroline Thompson, they drew inspiration from films such as THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1923), THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925), and KING KONG (1933). Burton first conceived the film as a musical, but later dropped the idea. 

Filming would take place in Florida with the rest of the cast rounded out with Anthony Michael Hall, Kathy Baker, and Alan Arkin. Famed make-up and special effects wizard Stan Winston would bring Edward’s scissorhands to life. Frequent collaborator Danny Elfman would provide the score. 

ED would be a critical and commercial hit. It would be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Makeup. Johnny Depp would be nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. 

Five years later, Michael Mann’s crime drama HEAT arrived in theatres. The film followed a crew of high-profile thieves (Robert DeNiro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Danny Trejo), as they duck and run from the LAPD Major Crimes Unit (led by Al Pacino) in a tale of cops, robbers, betrayal, and family drama. 

After making his crime-drama THIEF in 1981, Mann began producing a crime show for NBC. When the project fell through, he redeveloped the series into what would become HEAT. It was based in part on the true story of criminal and ex-Alcatraz inmate Neil McCauley. Mann drew from many of McCauley’s exploits, including the hijacking of an armored car, the burglary of a diamond drill bit company, and a sit-down he had with the detective that would eventually catch him in a shoot-out…all elements that would make it into the film. 

HEAT would mark the first on-screen appearance of famed actors DeNiro and Pacino together. Although the two had appeared in THE GODFATHER PART II (1974), the nature of their roles prevented them from interacting. The rest of the stellar cast would include Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Jon Voight, Dennis Haysbert, William Fichtner, Tom Noonan, Henry Rollins, Hank Azaria, Tone Loc, and a 13-year-old Natalie Portman. Filming would involve no soundstages and would be all be done on location. HEAT would be a box office earner and receive high praise for its direction and performances. 

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On the surface, these two films seem like they couldn’t be more different. HEAT is a crime drama with cops and robbers blasting away at each other, while ED is a quirky fantasy mixed with a love story that can be as weird as it is sappy. But a closer look shows they have a lot in common. Both films feature a character or more who live on the fringes of society; one group by choice, and one by unhappy circumstances. But the feelings of isolation can be felt in both films, and in today’s optics are very relevant; HEAT shows individuals who are fed up with society, and ED shows the persecution of people who look different. These are themes that give both films a timeless quality. In addition, HEAT and ED feature the best work from their directors. ED is one of Burton’s most personal films, and his scenes with Ryder and Depp make the best of the classic and elemental Beauty and the Beast storyline. HEAT is now considered to be a modern classic; THE DARK KNIGHT director Christopher Nolan cites it as a major inspiration, and the film’s sit-down show-down between DeNiro and Pacino still brings the chills (today, people still visit the diner and table where the scene was shot). Due to its place-setting of Christmas, ED has a holiday feel that can make it a standard entry on a holiday watch-list, while HEAT feels at home at any time of the year. In the end, when the names of Mann and Burton are mentioned, these are the films that are recalled first.