Thief (1981)
Genre: Crime / Thriller
Duration: 122 minuten
Alternative title: Violent Streets
Country:
United States
Directed by: Michael Mann
Stars: James Caan, Tuesday Weld and Willie Nelson
IMDb score:
7,4 (52.362)
Releasedate: 27 March 1981
Thief plot
"Tonight, his take home pay is $410,000... tax free."
A very talented jewel thief specializing in diamonds returns from prison. He falls for a woman he meets in town. Unwillingly, he is hired by the local Godfather for a small job and he makes a good income. Until he decides to stop working for that Godfather...
Actors and actresses
Frank
Jessie
Leo Alderman
David 'Okla' Bertinneau
Barry Stratagakis
Vincent Attaglia
Carl
Nick
Mitch Kanoff
Guido
Reviews & comments
wihu61
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- 1062 messages
- 581 votes
They want a little too much in this film. Caan definitely doesn't look like an intelligent bank robber, and at times just acts "a little strange" (the way he drags his beloved soon-to-be away from a party, that ridiculous scene at that adoption agency) .
Then the least convincing "godfather" ever, with which you can also break in very simple. In addition to being a master jewel thief and (potentially) well-intentioned family man, he is apparently also an explosives expert and an avenger like Charles Bronson. Then also some superfluous sentimentality in the form of Willie Nelson (don't let my die in prison... gasp!), and of course a lot of cool Italian mafia-Brooklyn accents as we have seen them in the meantime. do know.
Weak mix, I thought, absolutely incomparable with the very strong "Heat" 
Translated from Dutch · View original
Filmkriebel
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- 10326 messages
- 4839 votes
Mann's unique style is what you're watching this movie for; night shots, electric atmosphere, the sounds of Tangerine Dream... that's called NEO noir. He was way ahead of his time in the genre. The intro immediately hits like a bomb and grabs the attention. The story is nothing new, however: the "last job going wrong" has already been made in dozens of different versions, so you guessed that shit is coming up. The solitary character of Frank (an ex-con) is fairly cliché, but his aspirations to lead a normal family life give just that little bit more: moral dilemmas. Something that is always just more fascinating in Mann's film than the crime plot itself. Needless to say, Mann expanded on this narrative concept 15 years later in Heat, where the criminals were given fully fleshed-out private lives? Thought Caan was good in his role, a bitingly aggressive chap with golden hands when it comes to theft. Yes, Thief was a nice sit, not on Heat's level, but it's a nice demonstration of where Mann was going.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Sergio Leone
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- 4501 messages
- 3184 votes
Excellent movie.
Thief won't be for everyone. The late 70s/early 80s vibe is finger tight. The synthesizer sound, the cars, the clothes, ... It is very of that time. In my case, that scores points. Michael Mann also portrays it stylized and extremely atmospheric. His characteristic nighttime shots are by no means lacking here.
Thus the average crime story with James Caan - decent actor but never top - becomes a pleasant sight. Apart from the look and the sound, there are a few action scenes that feel a bit dated, including the final settlement. Where Mann delivers an otherwise tightly shot film, he cannot distinguish himself as an action director - something he was able to do later.
4
Translated from Dutch · View original
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