Thief

Thief (1981)

Directed by Michael Mann

Screenplay by Michael Mann

Based on the novel, "The Home Invaders" by Frank Hohimer 

Stars: James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Jim Belushi, Robert Prosky, Tom Signorelli, John Santucci, Gavin MacFadyen, Dennis Farina, Willie Nelson,

Hearing the passing of James Caan, everybody was talking about this movie. To honor his memory, I decided to watch it. It is a tense thriller that will grip you.

A seasoned safe cracker, Frank (Caan) thinks that is time to retire from the thieving game. He wants to retire with his wife, Jessie (Weld), have a house and raise a family. Frank takes his last job from Leo (Prosky). A diamond heist that will have a very good payday for him. Things are not what they seem.

I am not familiar with Michael Mann’s filmography. This movie was intense. I thought the movie was going to go the way of any other heist movie. The plan is planned out and then on the time, something goes wrong. It was not like that.

I was rooting for the thief to win. James Caan was a forced to be reckoned with in this movie. It was surprising that the movie received “Worst Ever” nominations. I don’t agree with that. You cannot tell me that you look at the diner scene and say that was the worst acting. Tuesday Weld was perfectly fine in the movie. Not the worst.

The one thing that bothered me with the movie is the cops. The whole “side plot” with Urizzi and Boresko (Santucci, MacFadyen) went nowhere. Were the cops corrupt? Did they want a piece of the action?

Rating: 9/10