In Heat – if it happens in Vegas, Nick “Mex” Escalante (Burt Reynolds) probably knows about it. Nick’s a Vietnam hero turned bodyguard – “Chaperone” in the Yellow Pages – who prefers using sharp objects over guns, and dreams of retiring in Venice, Italy – but has trouble staying off the blackjack tables. In a screenplay written by William Goldman (adapted from his novel), Reynolds trades in his bubble-gum chewing nonchalance for a nuanced swagger that’s a little world weary, but all tough guy business when he has to be and he’s great on every lens. Nick’s not above taking a few body shots so a client can impress a girl, or give his new client and fast friend Cyrus Kinnick (Peter MacNicol) a “crash course in bravery” and he’s definitely willing to exact revenge on mob-connected high roller Danny DeMarco (Neill Barry), who put his friend and lady of the evening (Karen Young) in the emergency room. When DeMarco decides to press his luck, and go after Nick with his own muscle, Nick just might need Cyrus to show if those bravery lessons have paid off.
