Michael Mann's Heat is one of the most epic and electrifying crime movies of all time. While its story of cops and robbers is nothing ground-breaking, it is the all-star cast and the complex characters they play that make the movies something special.
Just as the shootouts and heist sequences seem anchored in reality, the characters of Heat feel like the kind of figures ripped from the real world. Therefore, it makes the line between heroes and villains a bit blurred. The characters audiences are meant to cheer for are often flawed while the supposed villains can be likable at times.
Waingro
While some of the criminals in the movie are not easy to dismiss as villains, it is quite easy to mark Waingro as a bad guy. He is introduced at the beginning of the movie as the new member of Neil's crew who fancies himself something of a cowboy.
He quickly proves to be a liability as he executes one of the guards for no reason. He then goes into hiding where he is shown to be a violent killer, targeting sex workers. And when he has nowhere to run, he sells out Neil's crew and gets most of them killed.
Roger Van Zant
Roger van Zant is a corporate man who makes the mistake of underestimating Neil. After some of his bonds are stolen in the opening heist, Neil attempts to make a deal with van Zant to buy them back. However, van Zant's fragile ego is insulted and he decides to try and have Neil killed instead.
Van Zant seems to think of himself as a tough guy who cannot be messed with, but as soon as he finds himself in over his head, he becomes a coward, hiding out in his office. While it was just business for Neil and the others, van Zant takes it personally and turns things unnecessarily violent.
Michael Cheritto
When it comes to Neil and his crew, it is easy to like them when they are not in the midst of their criminal acts. Michael seems like a nice enough guy most of the time as he jokes around and seems to look up to Neil.
However, like the others, he shows his ruthless side when on the job. Not only is he willing to shoot and kill police officers in his way, but when cornered, he attempts to take a little girl as a hostage which is a pretty terrible thing to do.
Chris Shiherlis
Chris is another member of Neil's crew and also seems to have a close attachment to Neil. On the job, he is professional and sharp, but he is shown to be a flawed and complicated guy in his home life which makes it a little harder to root for him.
His gambling causes tension within his marriage and he is shown to have explosive anger towards his wife. However, despite their problems, they do obviously have a deep love for one another and their relationship is surprisingly moving.
Neil McCauley
Robert De Niro is excellent at bringing nuance to his characters, even career criminals like Neil McCauley. He is a murderer and a thief who shows he is willing to walk away from anyone in his life in order to save himself.
But while the movie presents these unlikable qualities, it also gives the audience plenty of reason to be interested in him. He is a man who has a code and there is a sense that he would prefer not to kill anyone if given the choice. He shows decency and honor towards his enemy while also being an intelligent operative.
Nate
Nate is a bit of a mysterious figure in the movie. He works as an accomplice for Neil, setting him up with his jobs and providing him with intel on his enemies. He is a professional and matter-of-fact person who Neil trusts completely.
However, when trouble starts, Nate also proves he is a loyal friend and level-headed advisor. He genuinely cares about helping Neil and the others make it to safety and escape the law. He even tries to dissuade Neil from seeking out revenge against their enemies out of concern for his safety.
Donald Breedan
Donald Breedan is a character who is sort of at the canter of his own mini-movie within the main plot. His sub-plot revolves around him being released from prison and attempting to start a new life with his ive wife.
He is shown getting a regular job and trying to make things work, but his new boss takes advantage of him as a convict on probation. Out of desperation, he s Neil and the others on a daring heist which leads to the end of his tragic story.
Eady
A theme of Heat seems to be that the women in the story are left as victims of the action of the men. Eady is a perfect example of this kind of collateral damage as Neil's new love interest. She is a sweet and lonely person who makes an unexpected connection with Neil and falls for him.
She is unaware of what he does for work and is understandably horrified to learn the truth. However, Neil takes advantage of the new trust Eady has in him and convinces her to go with him only to abandon her. She is an innocent and decent person dragged into Neil's dark world.
Charlene Shiherlis
Unlike Eady, Charlene is very aware of her husband's like as a criminal. She seems ive of what he does for a living which makes her somewhat complicit in his crimes. However, there is also a sense that she is trapped in this life and looking for a way out.
Her arc through the movie is that she has to choose between Chris or a new life which could mean she answers for his actions. Her final decision is a heartbreaking one and makes the audience feel for Charlene's struggle.
Lauren Gustafson
Before she became a superstar in Hollywood, Natalie Portman delivered a small ing role as Lauren in Heat. She is the troubled stepdaughter of Vincent who is dealing with her own mental health struggles and the disappointing relationship with her real father.
Though she is not a big part of the story, she is a character who goes through real and relatable struggles outside of the world of crime. She is a heartbreaking side character with who the audience sympathizes immediately.
