Elliot Goldenthal’s haunting, ambient music creates a sense of "luminous noir." The Silence:
Michael Mann has tinkered with Heat over the years.
Technical Perfection: The Best Action Sequence in Film History
What makes Heat the "best" in its class is the way it subverts the genre. It isn’t just about the action; it is about the cost of a life lived on the edge. Both men are married to their jobs, which has destroyed their personal lives. The film gives equal weight to the antagonists and the protagonist, making the audience root for both sides simultaneously.