Thief (1981)

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1. 

   Siskoid

   From the off in Thief, you know you're in good hands. As usual, Michael Mann makes wonderful use of lighting and locations - in this case, a wet nocturnal Chicago - wait, did I say "as usual"? You're telling me this was Mann's first feature film?! Well, wow, his visual style is already there. From the first couple shots. And though I'm not sure I like the love interest (it's too aggressive and reminded me of Rocky's), it's a pretty great heist story too. James Caan plays a safe cracker who, having been raised by the state and spent his 20s in prison, is impatient to get his life in order and secure what he sees as a kind of freedom, one where he calls the shots and no one else. That leads him to the opportunity to do "one last job" and ally with a top level gangster to make it happen. Along the way, he'll be asked to compromise his vision and thereby lies a tragedy in the making. As much character portrait as crime thriller, Thief is another one of Mann's riveting, glossy experiences. 2 years 6 months ago
2. 

   palefire

   A gritty, well-framed film with a well-done Tangerine Dream soundtrack. James Caan is riveting as an irascible thief. This film managed to capture the working class ingenuity reminiscent of Becker's Le Trou. I enjoyed the mechanical detail of James Caan cracking safes and so on. Much better than Pierce Brosnan's The Thomas Crown Affair, et al., which really glosses over the hard work of thieving. An excellent film overall. 8 years 8 months ago
3. 

   mcbaniel

   The current movie DRIVE really reminded me of this movie. 12 years 6 months ago

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