Thief is a 1981 movie directed by Michael Mann.
WHAT HAPPENS?
A safe-cracking expert attempts to make a lucrative, final score before starting a new life. His job is successful but he becomes entangled with a ruthless mob boss.
ONE LINE REVIEW
Thief is a gritty, realistic crime movie that features a phenomenal performance by James Caan.
THE ACTORS
James Caan completely owns the role of Frank, a hard-nosed, self-reliant master thief who wants to go straight after one last score. There isn’t a lot of nuance in the performance but rarely does an actor hold such command over a character. Caan’s Frank wants complete control over his destiny – to achieve such an end, he is compelled to destroy his life. Caan exhibits a measured intensity throughout. In practically every scene, seething rage is waiting to erupt.
Robert Prosky is a scene-stealer as mob boss Leo. He emerges as a mild-mannered, fatherly fixer but reveals himself as a ruthless, dangerous force. After Frank refuses a future job, Prosky’s Leo has Jim Belushi’s Barry killed. Prosky leans over a beaten Caan and delivers a chilling reality – everything Frank has belongs to Leo. It’s an extraordinary scene that effectively establishes an otherwise genteel characters as a threat.
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