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The world lost an acting legend recently when Val Kilmer, the star of “Tombstone,” “Top Gun,” and numerous other classics, passed away at the age of 65. Kilmer starred in some truly great movies during his long career, but at or right near the top of that list will always be director Michael Mann’s heist classic “Heat.” In the 30 years since its release, fondness for it has only grown — and with good reason. It turns out, Kilmer thought pretty highly of the movie as well, particularly his experience making it.
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In a Reddit AMA from 2017, Kilmer was asked what it was like to make “Heat.” The actor was in the midst of a huge year when the film came out, as 1995 was also when he took over playing Bruce Wayne in “Batman Forever.” However, Kilmer’s recollection of his time playing expert criminal Chris Shiherlis was, fair to say, more loving.
“Imagine being able to say, ‘Al and Bob’ for the rest of your life. Not many people can do that. I have seen Bob, giggling like a school girl in a van in the middle of the night, because we have to be quiet cause they are filming outside,” Kilmer began in response to this specific fan query. Rest assured, he didn’t stop there. The actor then continued to wax poetically about his time making the crime classic:
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“I have been hugged by Al Pacino in the middle of downtown LA like he was my older brother. I have shot live rounds from high powered assault weapons over Bob’s head while rehearsing lines from our film. I got to kiss Ashley Judd. I sometimes lived at Michael Mann’s house. I am in one of the greatest cops and robbers films in film history, has to be in the top 20. I am on the poster for goodness sake. What an honor! Priceless experience. Watching ALL the actors do their thing. We all work hard but when you are with the icons, you get really squared away. Loved every minute of it.”
Val Kilmer’s memory of Heat was (almost) as good as the movie itself
There is a lot to dig into there. First and foremost, Kilmer is right to single out the infamous shootout from “Heat,” which is arguably the best scene of its kind from any movie ever made. It’s also not remotely surprising that he appreciates getting to be friendly with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, two of the greatest actors to ever do it. Not many people get to be on a first-name basis with those two, all thanks to being a part of one of their best movies, no less.
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More than anything, particularly in light of Kilmer’s passing, it’s truly a gift getting to see him carry on so happily about the making of one of his most beloved films. The fact of the matter is that many actors have appeared in a movie people love, only to not have much of anything nice to say about their experience making it after the fact. (Just look at Colin Farrell and “Miami Vice,” another Michael Mann joint.) Hence, it’s truly refreshing to learn Kilmer loved this film the same way many of us love the movie itself.
Mann is currently working on “Heat 2,” which will be based on the novel of the same name he co-wrote. Because it will be set closer to the timeline of the original film, it’s not believed that any of the actors from the first “Heat” will be reprising their roles. Whoever has to step into the shoes of Chris Shiherlis will certainly have a lot to live up to. They should also probably try to enjoy it. Kilmer certainly did.
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A couple of my colleagues spoke briefly about Kilmer at the start of today’s episode of the /Film Daily podcast:
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