Thief

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Insomniac X Michael Mann injects style and substance into a familiar story in this bleak but cathartic crime thriller. Brooding performances and detailed, procedural heist sequences create an intriguing foundation for the story's social themes as James Caan's working class thief fights for independence from forces that seem intent on owning not only his labor, but his body and soul. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/27/25 Full Review DanTheMan 2 A near-thunderous theatrical debut, Thief shows Michael Mann to be a film craftsman of the highest order, as if born to direct. Painting Chicago as a city of dreamy steely blues, sparkling orange, gleaming fluorescence and stately neon-drenched haze, where the streets shimmer with dampness. Loaded with striking night shots of back alleys and glittering skyscrapers, the film has an all-pervading atmosphere of gloom and never-ending tension. The lights of late, lamented twenty-four-hour delis always artfully doubled across the blackest pavement, all accompanied by the lush electronic soundscape of Tangerine Dream. James Caan's tough-cocky-chilling performance makes the dark world of professional crime so appealing one can hardly resist its dangers, easily a career best and one that turns the film into a disturbingly gripping character study just as much as a gripping thriller. There's a kind of inaudible beat to the film. It's as if it has its own heart, one that throbs insistently whenever the pace, pulse or intensity quickens, a side effect of Mann's confidently assured direction. Mann pounds his film into you in a combination of gorgeous images, taut performances and a score which intertwines both sound and music. There is no respite from Thief; it is bravura filmmaking at its most potent. A subculture of its own. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/16/25 Full Review Blu B All Time Classic. The fact this is Michael Mann's Debut is just mindblowing. This is something you expect from a seasoned director hitting their peak. This is something I'd expect from De Palma. The music...man it's the best thing. It freakin rules and is so memorable. The acting is really good overall but this film belongs to James Caan. He is so good in this and commands every scene he is in. One of his best performances I have ever seen from him. Great villian too. This is basically a Heist Movie and a Crime Drama mixed together and man does it work really well. It rarely ever feels like there seperate affairs and one ties into the other extremely well. The ending is really cool too and badass. Exceelent pacing too. The drama I would say is a bit more interesting oddly enough as cool and slick as the Heist scenes are. It's a real testament to Caan's acting and the direction. Everyone should give this a try once. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/25 Full Review Mike B I recalled thinking on first viewing that it was a cleverly plotted, atmospheric neo-noire, when neo-noire was barely a thing. That was in 1981. It holds up as influential and as a template of Michael Mann's next decade of work. But having just watched it again, 45 years later, it was a bit of a slog. Long establishing shots with breathy synths to create mood, when concise dialogue economical camera work could have built scenes with more impact. The characters are sketched out in their first scenes, but never really filled out as the story proceeds. It all looked cool in the day, but it presents its era as much as it shows its age. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/25 Full Review CodyZamboni Z Compelling tale of a safecracker, Wanting to go legit after one more big job, but mafia won't let him, Top notch stylized thriller from Michael Mann, Understated performance by James Caan, Memorable electronic score by Tangerine Dream, And William Petersen, Dennis Farina have small roles, Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/25 Full Review Thomas P The lights, music, the cars at night, James Caan...Everything looks really cool but I feel like It takes a bit too long For things to get interesting. The order of events feel kind of predicable but the ending makes It worth It, For sure. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/27/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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