Thief (1981) – 8/10 – Underrated, fast-paced caper that entertains
Overall
Thief is a crime thriller classic inspired by a 1975 memoir, The Home Invaders: Confessions of a Cat Burglar. Director Michael Mann, known for his action films, made his feature film debut with this outstanding work. While the screenplay is nothing special, the signature Michael Mann presentation is grandiose. Mann might not rank with legendary directors like Scorsese or Fincher, but he always entertains. Thief is striking because the main character is difficult to root for or against. He is a kind, respected family man, but he has a rage and a criminal past.
Would I recommend this?
Yes, this is worth checking out once. I have watched most of Mann’s later esteemed films over the years but hadn’t seen Thief. Here we are. Compared to Mann’s later works, such as the beloved Heat, he keeps it tight and subdued here. It’s less flashy action and more staying within the realm of realism. As his debut film, he had a tight budget and fewer resources to work with, but you don’t feel it. Often, a bigger budget doesn’t translate into a superior movie. This certainly isn’t Heat, if that’s what you seek, but it gets close enough for a tenth of the cost. My rating is 8/10.
Plot (spoiler-free)
Frank (James Caan), an expert safe-cracker, is released from prison after serving a long prison sentence for diamond burglary. Upon release, he returns to the crime life, but a lucrative long-term job lands from a mobster under police surveillance. He also courts a bar cashier, Jessie (Tuesday Weld), intending to marry her. With millions on the line, he decides on one last job before retiring.
Interesting tidbits
Mann employed real-life thieves and used a real vault. A former jewel thief, John Santucci, was a technical adviser and based the main heist on one he once led. The safecracking tools and techniques are accurate. With the statute of limitations up, the advisers were free to explain and gloat about crimes they had completed to cops handling movie security. The filmmakers blew up cars and a temporary house built for the movie. Mann wanted Jeff Bridges to play Frank, and Al Pacino passed on the role. Caan finally landed it.
Technicals
Thief is an incredible debut work for Mann, who directed and wrote the screenplay. The direction, acting, script, pacing, soundtrack, editing, camerawork, and cinematography are excellent. Attention to detail is a Mann signature, which he sticks to here. Caan was remarkable, as his earlier performances showed in The Godfather and A Bridge Too Far. Filmed in Chicago and Los Angeles, every shot is picturesque and fitting for the 80s. Mann used his experience garnered here for bigger, more magnificent works. As for issues, they include multiple side characters with little development. You want to avoid having individuals who aren’t relatable or contribute little to the story. Often, such characters can be combined or cut. Second, the ending seemed like a cop-out, leaving us unsatisfied. Finally, others have rehashed similar plots countless times. While done well, it’s not original or fresh, if you’re big into that. Overall, further complaining, such as the dialogue, would be nitpicking. It’s a small-budget movie for a debut director working with multiple new actors. For those reasons, setting higher expectations wouldn’t be sensible.
*Obtained trivia facts from IMDb’s trivia page and plot/basic history/name information from Wiki
