Thief

Early Mann is also Mann. There are a couple of dead ends here, but essence of his style is clear to see here already; primarily the cold, male atmosphere and fascination with cities at night. There is no point pretending that the story would have worked better if the movie had been shorter, but in the end the important things is whether or not you like the background music by Tangerine Dream. You see, their typical eighties-style synths (which not many people can play as well as they do) have the power to raise long, tacit journeys through the neon jungle to hypnotic heights, as well as to burst your eardrums and get your attention. (27/01/2014)

I understand that nostalgia is a bitch and that many people grew up on B-movie genre films from the 80s, but I have to say stubbornly that from today's perspective, this film is an absolute waste of time. It is a film that really pissed me off and that I consider to be my personal mistake. I gave 3 stars to the related genre film Drive, which is in a completely different, much higher league. This is undoubtedly the weakest Michael Mann film I have seen so far. It is true, however, that it was his directorial debut, and the producers were still testing his abilities. It can't really be said that it's Mann's failure, because the direction, along with James Caan's performance, who essentially does what is expected from an actor of his caliber, are the only things that can be positively evaluated. The rest of the cast belongs in a low-budget B-movie, the screenplay has logical flaws, and I feel like my 14-year-old son, if he had the opportunity to watch a few crime movies, could have written the dialogue better. I had the feeling most of the time that the dialogue and the behavior of the film characters were somehow inappropriate. The psychology of the film protagonists is definitely lazy. Where the film should be building up, it actually fails, because it is precisely in the action scenes that the worst and most 80s film clichés are revealed. Overall impression: 25%. (01/08/2016)

Although this early Mann movie is rather modest it doesn’t economize on quality. An untraditionally narrated theft with the excellent James Caan in the powerhouse (it must be said that Frank is a really intriguing character and can be seen in all of Mike’s later thieves) and Mann’s precision when directing the dialogs as well as the action sequences. Cutting a safe open maybe never looked more effective but realistic at the same time. Not forgetting the excellent music by Tangerine Dream. To hell with me, you and everybody. (05/01/2011)

The story of a principled criminal played by badass James Caan, a character you’d rather not have to deal with. Thief is perhaps the best example of Michael Mann’s mastery of dreamlike imagery. It’s just a phenomenal directional debut. What’s more, its soundtrack features Tangerine Dream’s unique music! I highly recommend the director’s cut, since it contains even more audiovisual delights. Here’s a movie that deserves more attention than it gets! (23/04/2018)