The film quickly establishes its characters. “McCauley” (Robert De Niro) is an extremely careful criminal who leads a group of associates in carrying out elaborate robberies seemingly without risk. Facing him is police lieutenant “Vincent” (Al Pacino), attempting to pursue them, though he’s at a disadvantage because they leave no trace behind. A small mistake during one armored car heist offers the persistent detective a potential lead that could connect him to one of McCauley's crew. Simultaneously, "Vincent" struggles with his relationship with his wife “Justine” (Diane Venore), who is weary of his frequent absences and odd hours, while “McCauley,” a confirmed bachelor, forms a connection with a woman named “Charlene” (Ashley Judd) in a diner; she begins to influence him and make him reconsider what he desires from life. The story culminates in one final operation, and now that the police are closing in, it will require cunning and cleverness to determine who comes out on top—and Michael Mann successfully creates and maintains considerable suspense, building to an exhilarating finale while keeping the danger present until the very end. Several well-developed secondary storylines also contribute, giving Val Kilmer and Kevin Gage opportunities to shine and briefly alleviate some of the growing pressure between De Niro and Pacino. Though I felt that Pacino occasionally seemed to be acting a bit too dramatically, the entire cast delivers an excellent heist film that demonstrates how it’s not the robbery itself that creates difficulties, but rather successfully evading capture.

Source on TMDB