Thief

"After 11 years in prison, an aging master safecracker (James Caan) decides to pull one more job before retiring to a quiet, peaceful life. However, the mob finds him much too valuable and refuses to let him retire, keeping him trapped in the life he so desperately wants to leave behind. An introspective look at a man reevaluating the life he's lived, THIEF is a fascinating, intense film, based on the novel by Frank Hohimer."

Frank (James Caan) is a professional thief specialising cash and diamond jobs only. He learnt his trade whilst serving eleven years in prison from his friend and mentor, Okla (Willie Nelson). It is also here that Frank learns the mental attitude where "nothing means nothing", which makes Frank a very dangerous, tough and uncompromising guy when he needs to be. What is more dangerous than someone who has nothing to lose?

The story starts four years after Frank has left prison. He owns a bar and car sales business which helps legitimise his wealthy lifestyle and does safecracking jobs as well to finance a dream he has all planned out for his early retirement. When the chance of speeding up his goal comes from mob boss Leo (Robert Prosky), he finds it too attractive to turn down even though it goes against many of his principles. Frank feels time is running out for him, he wants his dream which includes his new lady friend Jessie (Tuesday Weld) with whom he hopes to start a family and a new life, so he decides that this will be the one last, big score. However, Leo has other ideas...

Director Michael Mann's first feature film is a marvellous debut, one that in many ways would be revisited in his later offering, the excellent 1995 movie Heat. As in Heat the attention to detail provides an interesting look into the world of the career criminal, which along with the more mundane moments, build a picture of the life of the man, his loves and his motivations.

James Caan provides one of his best performances depicting the troubled and dangerous world that Frank inhabits. Caan is a wonderful actor who unfortunately has not received the praise he deserves, I think he ought to be rated alongside some of the greatest actors of his generation. With the passing of time many films have suffered through the use of poor 80's electronic soundtracks, but we are fortunate that Thief has been spared this fate. Tangerine Dream provides a terrific score that adds a certain atmosphere that enhances the enjoyment of this movie.

Reviewed: 02/10/06

Memorabilia

Script (Final Draft, March 6, 1980) .pdf

• Movies

Heat (1995)
Manhunter (1989)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
The Godfather (1972)
The Score (2001)