A couple of character development scenes вЂ“ one chronicling FrankвЂ™s time in prison, and another revealing a coarsely candid negotiation at an adoption clinic вЂ“ are so sincere and severe that they outshine most of the gangster and heist thrills the drama centering on relationships carries greater emotion and potency than the violence or action. The performances are also quite the highlight, with Caan embodying his antagonistic, irredeemable, yet strangely sympathetic antihero (made more so by the extreme corruption of law enforcement) with such ferocity and dedication that heвЂ™s unwaveringly convincing. вЂњThiefвЂќ is gritty, stocked with disagreeable personas, and generally ugly (from the sets to the physical attributes of the participants), but it possesses a realism far greater than most of its crime drama peers. Every shot appears as if filmed on location all of the players, particularly supporting roles, are superbly cast, looking their parts and even coming across as if actual employees or background workers rather than actors and everything thatвЂ™s said sounds as if improvised by genuine crooks. Writer/director Michael Mann (adapting a novel by Frank Hohimer) imparts incredible authenticity to this little tale of an ex-con and his troubles вЂ“ from the settings to the character designs to the dialogue.

When the Attaglia situation leads to a meeting with mob boss Leo (Robert Prosky), Frank finds himself working with some very dangerous people for a sizable score that carries considerable risks вЂ“ but it could be his ticket out of a life of crime. Meanwhile, Frank spends time trying to date latest squeeze Jessie (Tuesday Weld), a waitress, while also contending with incarcerated mentor David вЂњOklaвЂќ (Willie Nelson). The $185,000 on the corpse ends up in the hands of L and A Plating company owner Attaglia (Tom Signorelli), who requires a gun to the head to arrange a meeting to give it back to Frank. His latest acquisition of precious stones involves longtime fence Gags (Hal Frank), who meets an untimely demise, as reported to him by pal Barry (James Belushi). When heвЂ™s not cracking safes, Frank runs a used car dealership in Illinois вЂ“ or at least uses it as a front.

ItвЂ™s stylized, but itвЂ™s not suspenseful, which becomes something of a trend for many aspects of вЂњThief.вЂќ But because thereвЂ™s no timeframe or other suggested immediacy (save for the monitoring of a police scanner), a slowness exists that inadvertently dispenses with the tension that should be inherent in any robbery sequence. ItвЂ™s even storming outside, casting water and darkness down upon a getaway vehicle and FrankвЂ™s cohorts. He opening scene features Frank (James Caan) drilling into a safe to steal some diamonds, complete with camerawork that zooms into the hole, long pauses to detail the equipment used, and Tangerine DreamвЂ™s hypnotic, pulsing soundtrack. Release Date: March 27th, 1981 MPAA Rating: RДirector: Michael Mann Actors: James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson, Jim Belushi, Robert Prosky, Tom Signorelli, Dennis Farina, Nick Nickeas, John Santucci T Genre: Crime Drama and Heist Running Time: 2 hrs.

The thief 1981