Thief | | Cast : | James Caan, Tuesday Weld | | Director : | Michael Mann | | Studio : | Mgm/Ua Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | March 27, 1981 | | DVD Released Date : | June 04, 2002 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | April 15, 2005 | | Summary | You can tell it was Mann's first movie. | Content
 | While Michael Mann's first theatrical film, Thief, has style to spare and is as high-tech as they come for heist thrillers, it is severely lacking in character depth and sympathy.
I enjoyed this movie, but not for the reasons that I thought I would. I have seen and loved Michael Mann's "The Insider", "Manhunter", and especially his crime opus "Heat". These were highly-stylish, technically-intriguing, but also heavily character driven stories. The characters in "Thief" seemed very static, and very cold. The ones we are meant to sympathize with are not developed enough, and the rest are so desolate they seem almost sociopathic.
Caan's performance is great to watch, as is usually the case. He handles the tough guy stuff great, and the limited amount of positive emotions he's given to convey are well displayed, but hard to justify, and the script often has him flipping switches at an unintentionally amsuing rate.
The score by Tangerine Dream works well (although it severely dates the film, and the closing scene's sound like a bad attempt at "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd with the chords rearranged--the same thing that happens during the score for "Manhunter" oddly enough), and it is kind of fun to see future Mann alumni William Peterson and Dennis Farina in bit roles as a bartender and a bodyguard respectively.
Not bad for his first time out at bat, but he really didn't find his stride until "Manhunter". |
| Rating | | | Date | March 18, 2005 | | Summary | 'I'll whack out your whole family.' | Content
| Thief is Mann's first film and a kind of precursor to Heat, his 1995 crime 'epic'.
Extremely stylish and well-made, Thief is the story of Frank (James Caan), a lone-wolf, highline cat burglar working Chicago. Making up for time lost in the joint, Frank takes down 'scores' and one day comes across the mob as he's trying to collect on some 'downed merch'.
The film is gritty, violent, and credible. Mann goes for realism all the way, and styles it heavily with great camera work, a pulsing Tangerine Dream score, and great performances all around, especially Caan, and Robert Prosky as Leo, the big shot who handles the fence for half of Chicago. Leo comes across as a gentle bear early on, but he goes on to deliver some classic lines, making him a totally sinister and underrated bad guy.
Apparently, real thieves and cops (who appear in the cast) 'consulted' on this film, and all of the safes and tools that Caan handles are real--he's really breaking into vaults in those scenes.
Nice DVD. A trailer, but importantly, a commentary from Mann and Caan, who especially loves this film as it gave him a chance to do some of his best acting. The commentary appears to have been taken from an early 1990s laser disc.
Highly recommended. Many plot points and a couple of scenes are redone in Heat (which itself was a remake of a TV movie called LA Takedown, another Mann outing). |
| Rating | | | Date | March 17, 2005 | | Summary | Tangerine Scream!!! | Content
| I Thought that at times things seemed a bit dated in parts, Great Direction from Micheal Mann Awesome display by Jimmy but the soundtrack though it might have sounded fine in 1980!! almost ruins the film for mine. sounded as though i was watching a Sci-Fi Flick or Alien Nation!.
Tangerine Dream Surely must have sounded like a passing faze in electronica even in 1980-81 But now, Boy!!! Just Plain Ruins it in my book.
Sure would like to View the film WITHOUT The Soundtrack Though!. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 28, 2005 | | Summary | Cream of the Crop Crime/Drama | Content
| James Caan in the role of his life as an ex-con jewel thief trying to break from his past and start a new life, but only after one or 2 more "scores".
A rather semi-obscure flick, but see this film! The dialogue, acting and screenplay are all top-notch. Musical score by Tangerine Dream adds to an already fabulous movie. Robert Proskie almost steals the show from Caan (well, not quite) as the Godfather-figure who tries (unsuccessfully) to lure Caan into his fold.
For those who say this movie isn't violent, sure it is. Perhaps not by "21st century standards", and that is to the good. In fact, even the last 20 minutes of the movie could have been "toned down" with the same, if not better, effect. I always get the feeling that graphic violence is put in these types of movies as a stop-gap measure for those who don't appreciate the fine acting and directing - "Thief" is no exception here.
Tuesday Weld, Jim Belushi and Willie Nelson as Caan's father figure/role model.
Yes, the transfer is poor, but considering the DVD can be had new for cheap, it is a "steal". One of the best crime/drama flicks of the modern era.
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| Rating | | | Date | December 22, 2004 | | Summary | Mann's masterpiece | Content
| Unfortunately for Michael Mann, Thief is his first and easily his best movie. How do you top yourself when the results are this close to perfection? The story may be familiar, but when the cast and the location are this good, everything old and familiar is recast as something special. James Caan's performance is also the best of his long career. There is not a single note out of place. The characters lives are etched on their faces, the grittiness does not come across as Hollywood manufactured. Modern film noir at its absolute finest. |
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