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

The Godfather

The Godfather (1972)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola

Based on the novel by Mario Puzo

Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Abe Vigoda, Richard Castellano, Talia Shire, Diane Keaton, Al Lettieri, Sterling Hayden, Gianni Russo, and John Cazale

Please, don't hate me. I have never seen the movie in its entirety. I caught bits and pieces of it throughout the years. My expectations were high. Maybe they were too high.

Taking place after World War II, we follow the Corleone family as they try to take hold of the New York criminal underworld. I'm sure you all know the story by now, except me.

I had some gripes with the movie. I cannot believe that the wedding between Carlo and Connie (Russo, Shire) lasted for almost thirty minutes. Understandable to try to establish the characters. Cool. It felt stagnant to me.

The line delivery with the actors was like they had peanut butter stuck in their mouths. I could not understand what they were saying. The motivations of some characters were strange and jarring. Michael in Sicily, for example.

The time was not clear. I had to look up when the events of the movie took place. I wish Coppola put title cards or something make the audience better understand what was happening.

I know that there were some controversies with this movie with the score by Nino Rota was stolen from another composer. Al Pacino skipping the Oscars because of category fraud. I agree. Pacino had more screen time than Brando. Weird. There is also the endless slurs against almost every ethnic group. Oh, boy. I cringed.

I wanted to shout endlessly praises to the movie, but I felt that the hype of the movie made it slightly overrated to me.

Rating: 7/10