A forgotten classic - Michael Mann's Thief

[Mr. Pink]

This is Michael Mann's first film, and in my opinion his best. I like it even better than Heat. It doesn't have Robert DeNiro or Al Pacino or spectacular shootouts, but it's the best depiction of the criminal world I've ever seen in any movie. It's gritty as shyt, and very realistic, from the tools, to the slang, to the behaviour of the characters. The thieves are professional, the cops are corrupt, the mobsters are cunning and insidious, but all in a believeable way, not in the exagerrated Hollywood fashion.

Any fan of crime/gangster movies should watch this immediately.

 

[One4Deuce]

I'll be getting the Criterion Blu-ray as soon as I can find it for $20 or less. Never seen the movie but I'm looking forward to checking it out.

 

[Nature Boy Ric Flair]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Chesirecatdaddy]

Love this flick... saw it again last year.

Michael Mann is the goat... this isn't better than heat tho lol.

Yo some moroccan cat in france actually pulled of a successful cash heist in france and he credits michael mann's well researched movies for being able to pull it off. He got caught but the money was never recovered... and his team never got caught either... This dude now works for michael mann as a consultant lolz.

Dude is long over dude for dropping some heat...not no hancock type shyt either.

 

[HHR]

One of Mann's absolute best films.

I think I prefer The Insider more, but that might be it.

I prefer it to Heat too, actually. Much tighter story imo.

Can not wait for the Criterion blu-ray

 

[Mr. Pink]

Michael Mann is the goat... this isn't better than heat tho lol.

I guess it depends on what you're looking for in a movie. I'd take realism over flash and action any day, though I can't fault someone who thinks otherwise.
I love Heat, but everything about it was a little too Hollywood and too far-fetched. With Thief I know I'm getting the real deal. Guys on the street in Chicago actually talked and behaved like that(like calling snitches "beefers" or criminals using "work cars"). When it comes to crime films that's important to me.
And I don't know Michael Mann's background, but he captured the world of Chicago burglars perfectly, from the equipment and methodology(bypass boxes, high tech torches, surveillance and counter surveillance equipment etc.), to cops shaking them down, to them being at the mercy of the mob.

 

[Chesirecatdaddy]

I guess it depends on what you're looking for in a movie. I'd take realism over flash and action any day, though I can't fault someone who thinks otherwise.
I love Heat, but everything about it was a little too Hollywood and too far-fetched. With Thief I know I'm getting the real deal. Guys on the street in Chicago actually talked and behaved like that(like calling snitches "beefers" or criminals using "work cars"). When it comes to crime films that's important to me.
And I don't know Michael Mann's background, but he captured the world of Chicago burglars perfectly, from the equipment and methodology(bypass boxes, high tech torches, surveillance and counter surveillance equipment etc.), to cops shaking them down, to them being at the mercy of the mob.

heat isn't realistic .... but in my post the heist was pulled off exactly like heat and was inspired by heat. There is a lot of hollywoodesque shyt in the movie I agree but the meat and potatos was pretty realistic. It def is a lot different than thief.

 

[Mr. Pink]

By the way, the scene where Frank and his wife are trying to adopt is hilarious.

Clerk: I see you put under employment "state penitentiary"
Frank: Yes
Clerk: You worked for the state I take it?
Frank: After a fashion
Clerk: What did you do?
Frank: Desks. I spot welded desks, and then I was promoted to shoes.
Clerk: You were in charge of the shop?
Frank: Lady I was a convict, I was doing time!

 

[Mr. Somebody]

By the way, the scene where Frank and his wife are trying to adopt is hilarious.

Clerk: I see you put under employment "state penitentiary"
Frank: Yes
Clerk: You worked for the state I take it?
Frank: After a fashion
Clerk: What did you do?
Frank: Desks. I spot welded desks, and then I was promoted to shoes.
Clerk: You were in charge of the shop?
Frank: Lady I was a convict, I was doing time!

He didnt want that job.