8. Heat (1995)
Original: L.A. Takedown (1989) The case of Michael Manns heat being a remake of L.A. Takedown is a rather unique one. While the Never Say Never Again entry saw Sean Connery reprising the same role, that of James Bond, Heat saw director Michael Mann remaking his own film. Though if it were a straight-up remake it wouldnt be eligible for the list, so what makes Heat different? Directors have remade their own films before, Sam Raimis Evil Dead 2 is often seen as more of a remake of the original Evil Dead than a sequel whereas Michael Haneke remade Funny Games so he could lecture audiences for watching his film on a global scale. The situation with Heat differs in that L.A. Takedown was a made for TV movie that whilst being a remake, differs from the original. Now it would be ludicrous to suggest Michael Mann ripped-off his own work, its not necessarily so ludicrous to suggest Heat was an unofficial remake or possibly more accurately, a prototype for Heat if L.A. Takedown is the original Grand Theft Auto, Heat is Vice City. Mann had a script written for Heat from the early 80s, before the idea of Pacino and De Niro sharing a scene was even an idea. Mann had been trying to get Heat made for 10 years; he knew that the chance to make L.A. Takedown was effectively a dry run for the film he really wanted to make. Being a made-for-TV movie Mann had a made-for-TV budget, so he stripped away meandering plotlines and side stories and made a movie about a robbery gone wrong. His original 180-page script was cut down to 110 pages and production lasted a month.
Although not a critical darling, L.A. Takedown had done its job and 6 years later Heat was born. Mann shot the film he always wanted to, using his full 180-page original script over a period of 9 months for roughly $60 million. The movie is based on 1960s accounts from police officer Chuck Adamson, upon whom the Pacino character is based, whilst De Niros McCauley is based on a real life criminal of the same name. Reestablishing the depth and side stories he had always envisioned, the epic 90s crime movie was born with its legacy still in effect today its influence can be seen everywhere, from The Wire to the Grand Theft Auto games to Nolans Batman trilogy.