Purely Joyful Movie!

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

A Disappointing Continuation

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Many gangsters movies have tried to look cool, but end up as wannabees. "Thief" is the real thing. Or as close to it as I have seen it. The screenplay was actually written by an ex-thief and the tools used in the heist were real and were provided for by ex-thiefs who were used as "technical advisors" on this movie.Director Michael Mann's debut has everything in it that a cool heist movie needs. It is probably for that reason that this classic is on Quentin Tarantino's list of favorite gangster movies. Starring James Caan as a guy you really really dont wanna mess with, playing a specialist in cracking high end security safes. After a big heist James Caan gets cut out by a crimeboss of his deserved share of the loot and responds by threatening him that he has got 24 hours to deliver his share or "he will wear his ass as a hat"."Thief", is a gangster classic, wherein men are real men. And James Caan is as cool as it gets. But Caan's character is still a human with needs and imperfections. A part of the movie is dedicated to his wish to settle down with a wife and kids and get out of the heist business. I think the time given to learn to know Caan's character is essential. It is done with broad strokes and in short conversations with his wife and friend. But those words are very powerful and I must restrain myself to not literally copy and paste them into this review. The dialogues in this movie are really to die for. Caan co produced this movie and I truly think it is one of his best roles ever. Great supporting role of James Belushi too. "The hell with me, the hell with you, with everything" is James Caan's motto. No attachments. Walk away in a second and burn everything behind you. This cold gangsters view of life is also a recurring theme in another classic of Michael Mann called "Heat", starring Robert de Niro and Al Pacino. You GOTTA see that movie if you are into heist movies!"Thief" features a mesmerizing soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. Music has always played a lead part in ALL of Michael Mann's movies. This soundtrack really is gorgeous and creates a constant mood of alienation. It can become too dominant sometimes, but often the music really enhances the suspense."Thief" is a slowburner. Tension is built up slowly. The climax only comes at the very end. Don't expect big shootouts or action movie heists with "Mission Impossible" break in schemes. Everything is done like a real professional heist man would do it: low key. However James Caan's character is nothing close to low key. The man is a volcano waiting to errupt. And explode he will...

'Thief' epitomises the phrase 'style over substance'. This film was released in 1981 and one can sense a confluence of various elements found in both the 70s as well as the 80s era of American cinema. Mann wants to conjure up the naturalism and grit of the 70s New Hollywood Anti-hero films, but at the same time one can see the elements that scream the 80s like the synth-pop score by Tangerine Dream, the overly stylised climactic gun fight, some of the overly dramatic dialogue,etc.The basic storyline involving a criminal wanting to move on from his life in crime and settle down by having a family, but being prevented from doing so by the bosses is something very derivative. However it is still possible to make us care about the characters and make an effective film with that tried and tested premise. But unfortunately the lack of depth in the characters and the themes made it tough for me to stay invested and I found myself completely uninterested during the climactic action scene and that can never be a good sign.

Thief is written and directed by Michael Mann, who adapts the screenplay form the novel "The Home Invaders" written by Frank Hohimer. It stars James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Robert Prosky, James Belushi and Willie Nelson. Music is by Tangerine Dream and cinematography by Donald Thorin.Frank (Caan) is a tough ex-con and expert jewel thief. He's working his way out to a normal life, but after being lured to a big job for the mob, he finds plans on both sides severely altered.For his first full length theatrical feature, Michael Mann announced himself to the film world with some distinction, and in the process showed everyone what style of film making makes him tick. Thief is a film of stylised grit, visually, thematically and narratively. Set and filmed in Chicago, Mann, aided by Thorin, shoots the story through pure neo-noir filters.At nighttime it is all a beautifully neon drenched haze, where the streets shimmer with dampness, a dampness brought about by the rain and god knows what else! By day there's a sweaty hue, a feeling that the heat is well and truly on, that even in daylight Frank isn't safe, his dreams may be a touch too far to reach. And no matter what the scene or scenario, Tangerine Dream are laying over the top a throbbing pulse beat, it's like The Warriors trying to get back to Coney Island, the music has a sense of dread about it, that danger is at every corner.This part of Chicago stinks, it's a vile and corrupt place. Dirty cops everywhere, underworld criminals ruling the roost - Hell! You can even buy a baby if you want one. Is it any wonder that Frank just wants to settle down with a wife and child, to walk barefooted in the sea, to have domesticity? But Frank, as smart, tough and savvy as he is, seems to thrive on the edge of things, with Mann giving him earthy and honest dialogue to engage us with, marking him out as an identifiable every man protagonist who just happens to be an exceptional thief.Mann's attention to detail is on show straight away, none more so than with the two key safe cracking jobs that are undertaken. Using genuine jewel thieves as technical advisers on the film, these sequences ooze realism, from the tools used, the pre-planning and the execution of the takes, it smacks of reality and does justice to the genuine feel of the characterisations brought alive by the superb cast. And finally Mann delivers a finale of ambiguity, a noir shaded piece of abruptness, an ending that perfectly fits the whole production. 9/10

Michael Mann's debut feature film. Wow. This film certainly establishes the great style that Mann's films have. It's also a film that Nicolas Winding Refn must have watched before making Drive, because there's a lot of similarities between the two. Both are the tales of men who are involved in heists and criminal activity and fall in love with a woman, until their criminal ties lead to bad things. The only difference being that this film has a LOT more dialogue than Drive. Drive attempts to silently convey the emotions found in Thief. James Caan gives a really great performance in this. He stands out especially in a scene in a diner where he explains his thinking in regards to life, and it's really great. All the other people play their roles perfectly, and it was really cool to see the first role that William Petersen got, even if it's like 5 seconds of screen time.The visual style of this film is what stands out. I watched the Criterion Bluray and it looks amazing. The cinematography is great, especially during night time scenes in the streets, and other colorful scenes like the beach scene. It looks great, and the bluray is stunning.The film kept me on edge, especially towards the end. The tension is there, and it's quite thrilling. I'd really recommend it to fans of crime drama, and also people who loved Drive. It's really good, and it's cool to see where Michael Mann started off.