L.A. Takedown
Encyclopedia
L.A. Takedown is a crime
/thriller made for TV movie that aired on NBC
on August 27, 1989 at 9 pm. It was written and directed by Michael Mann, and its ensemble cast includes Scott Plank, Alex McArthur, Michael Rooker
, Daniel Baldwin
, and Xander Berkeley
. Takedown starred Plank as Det. Vincent Hanna and McArthur as Patrick McLaren. It was released on home video as a region 2 DVD.
, in which most of McLaren's crew are killed. After making an escape, McLaren is torn between a new life with his girlfriend and seeking revenge on those that betrayed him.
and Crime Story
:
, Mann returned to a 1986 draft of L.A. Takedown, viewing the TV movie as a dry run for the film he had originally written, which was intended as a much more complex and elaborate story.
In late 1995
, Mann released Heat, which he directed from his original script. Heat was made with an ensemble cast including Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino
and Val Kilmer
. Heat was met with critical acclaim and became a financial success.
Nowadays, L.A. Takedown is best known for being the basis of Heat, often compared in an unfavorable light to the latter.
Whereas LA Takedown was produced in just a month, with 10 days on pre-production and 19 days of shooting, Heat took over 9 months to produce, with six months of pre-production and 107 days of shooting. Takedown was also made on TV film budget, while the budget of Heat is estimated at over $50 million.
Besides having bigger stars, a bigger budget and better effects, the most significant difference seen in Heat is the storyline. Whereas L.A. Takedown told a simple, straightforward story of a robbery and those directly involved, Heat fleshes this out, branching off into several subplots and including numerous twists. Because of this, Heat runs nearly twice the length of L.A. Takedown.
Differences in the plot include:
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
/thriller made for TV movie that aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
on August 27, 1989 at 9 pm. It was written and directed by Michael Mann, and its ensemble cast includes Scott Plank, Alex McArthur, Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker
Michael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
, Daniel Baldwin
Daniel Baldwin
Daniel Leroy Baldwin is an American actor, producer and director. He is the second oldest of the four Baldwin brothers, all of whom are actors. Daniel Baldwin is known for his role as Detective Beau Felton in the popular NBC TV series Homicide: Life on the Street...
, and Xander Berkeley
Xander Berkeley
Alexander Harper "Xander" Berkeley is an American actor. His roles include George Mason on the television series 24.-Early life:Berkeley was born in Brooklyn, New York, but has lived most of his life in New Jersey...
. Takedown starred Plank as Det. Vincent Hanna and McArthur as Patrick McLaren. It was released on home video as a region 2 DVD.
Synopsis
Detective Vincent Hanna is on the trail of a gang of ruthless professional criminals, led by the methodical Patrick McLaren. But Hanna is soon surprised when he discovers that he and McLaren have quite a lot in common. While McLaren and his gang plan another heist, Hanna and his colleagues keep surveillance. But McLaren also faces a personal problem when he finds himself falling in love, which he personally condemns due to the commitment required to his profession. Things then take a turn for the very worst, when the details of McLaren's planned heist are betrayed to the police. When they (including Hanna) arrive on the scene unexpectedly, McLaren and his crew engage them in a mid-street shootoutShootout
A shootout is a gun battle between armed groups. A shootout often, but not necessarily, pits law enforcement against criminal elements; it could also involve two groups outside of law enforcement, such as rival gangs. A shootout in a military context A shootout is a gun battle between armed groups....
, in which most of McLaren's crew are killed. After making an escape, McLaren is torn between a new life with his girlfriend and seeking revenge on those that betrayed him.
Cast
The majority of the main cast appeared as guest stars in episodes of one or both of Michael Mann's two shows produced in the 1980s, Miami ViceMiami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
and Crime Story
Crime Story
Crime Story is a 1993 Hong Kong action crime film starring Jackie Chan and directed by Kirk Wong, who also stars in the film.Unlike nearly all of Chan's other films, which feature a combination of action and comedy, Crime Story is serious-minded and dramatic , with action scenes that are violent...
:
- Scott PlankScott PlankScott Plank was an American film and television actor, best known for playing Nick Reardon on Melrose Place, and as Wiley Farrell on Air America.-Life & acting career:...
as Vincent Hanna - Alex McArthur as Patrick McLaren
- Michael RookerMichael RookerMichael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
as Bosko - Ely PougetEly PougetElizabeth "Ely" Pouget is an American actress and former model.After studying film at the University of Miami, Pouget's first role came in 1985 when she played Rosella Maestres on the television series Miami Vice. In 1987 she played Gina in the series The A-Team. Her first film was The Wrong Guys...
as Lillian Hanna - Vincent Guastaferro as Michael Cerrito
- Laura HarringtonLaura HarringtonLaura Harrington is an American actress.Harrington is perhaps best known for her role as the main character's sister in the 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape. Her character was aged around 20 though the actress herself was 35 at the time...
as Eady - Peter DobsonPeter DobsonPeter Dobson is an American actor who has appeared in Drowning Mona, The Frighteners, The Poseidon Adventure, and the film adaptation of Last Exit to Brooklyn. He also had a cameo role in Forrest Gump as Elvis Presley. Peter also credits himself under alternate name Derek Hoyle...
as Chris Sheherlis - Xander BerkeleyXander BerkeleyAlexander Harper "Xander" Berkeley is an American actor. His roles include George Mason on the television series 24.-Early life:Berkeley was born in Brooklyn, New York, but has lived most of his life in New Jersey...
as Waingro
Remake
After making The Last of the MohicansThe Last of the Mohicans (1992 film)
The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 historical epic film set in 1757 during the French and Indian War and produced by Morgan Creek Pictures. It was directed by Michael Mann and based on James Fenimore Cooper's novel of the same name, although it owes more to George B. Seitz's 1936 film adaptation...
, Mann returned to a 1986 draft of L.A. Takedown, viewing the TV movie as a dry run for the film he had originally written, which was intended as a much more complex and elaborate story.
In late 1995
1995 in film
-Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation....
, Mann released Heat, which he directed from his original script. Heat was made with an ensemble cast including Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
and Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
. Heat was met with critical acclaim and became a financial success.
Nowadays, L.A. Takedown is best known for being the basis of Heat, often compared in an unfavorable light to the latter.
Comparison to Heat
Michael Mann's original script was written in the early 1980s, and spanned 180 pages. For L.A. Takedown, he cut the script down to 110 pages so it would fit in a TV-movie timeslot. Using the original script, Mann decided to remake LA Takedown as it was originally intended; a complex, multi-layered crime drama.Whereas LA Takedown was produced in just a month, with 10 days on pre-production and 19 days of shooting, Heat took over 9 months to produce, with six months of pre-production and 107 days of shooting. Takedown was also made on TV film budget, while the budget of Heat is estimated at over $50 million.
Besides having bigger stars, a bigger budget and better effects, the most significant difference seen in Heat is the storyline. Whereas L.A. Takedown told a simple, straightforward story of a robbery and those directly involved, Heat fleshes this out, branching off into several subplots and including numerous twists. Because of this, Heat runs nearly twice the length of L.A. Takedown.
Differences in the plot include:
- The removal of Chris Shiherlis' gambling addiction, the subplot concerning Van Zant and his attempt to double-cross the crew (in this film Waingro plots against the crew by himself), and Hanna's troubled stepdaughter, among other things.
- The relationship between Hanna and his wife is much more strained in Heat, and is left on a more negative note than in this film.
- In this film Bobby Schwartz is killed and Lou Casals badly wounded in the climactic shootout. In Heat, Bosko is killed and Schwartz is shot in the arm but otherwise unhurt.
- The ending differs significantly. In this film McLaren, who has been rejected by Eady when she discovers who he really is, decides he has nothing to lose and goes after Waingro. Waingro shoots him through the hotel room's door and he dies in Hanna's arms. Hanna then goads Waingro into attacking and knocks him out a window to his death. In Heat McCauley successfully murders Waingro but is forced to abandon Eady when he spots Hanna, who chases him down and shoots him.