THIEF (Criterion, 1981) D: Michael Mann, w/ James Caan, Tuesday Weld. Rating: NNNNN Blu-ray/DVD extras: NNN Rating: NNNNN
Twenty-three years after its initial release, Thief is still one of the all-time great hard-boiled crime movies. It’s fast, tense, violent, completely believable and pushes its character-driven story to the limit.
Frank is a high-end Chicago safecracker and a man with no time to waste. He’s in his mid-30s and four years past an 11-year prison term. He wants a wife, kids, home and legitimate work. So he agrees to do a couple of big-money jobs for local mobster Leo. The consequences of that decision play out directly from Frank’s prison-bred survival philosophy.
James Caan (Frank) and Tuesday Weld (Jessie, the woman he wants in his life) portray very credible tough and wary characters and deliver writer-director Michael Mann’s harsh dialogue like they were born to it.
Much of the action is set amidst nighttime rain and reflecting lights and propelled by Tangerine Dream’s throbbing electronic score. Together, these elements make each of Frank’s crimes – three terrific wordless set pieces – just one more industrial job in an oppressive city.
Thief achieves much of its power through its extraordinarily heightened realism. In their interviews and shared commentary, Mann and Caan have lots to say about how they achieved it and its value to the production and the actor.
EXTRAS Commentary Mann, Caan and Tangerine Dream keyboardist Johannes Schmoelling interviews print essay. English audio and subtitles.
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