Thief (1981) a retrospective
Michael Mann and a debut film that still stands the test of time
When I began publishing my rambling musings on all things film in the Mayan prophecy year of 2012, my lifetime appreciation for the career of American filmmaker Michael Mann was one of my very first. I had nine of his first ten films on the very top row of my bulging DVD shelves, from the Gabriel Byrne starring The Keep from 1983 through to Johnny Deep tearing it up as the outlaw John Dillinger in 2009’s Public Enemies. Blackhat was added, and hated (sorry Michael!) six years later and as recently as 2023 I swooned over the majesty of Mann’s latest creation to date, Ferrari. From my first exposure to the films of this living cinematic genius and The Last of the Mohicans in 1992, I immediately returned to Manhunter and The Keep before it and for a lifetime since, his latest releases have been as eagerly awaited as those of Quentin Tarantino or Christopher Nolan, the Coen Brothers or Paul Thomas Anderson. But his debut film Thief, for reasons I can’t explain, had always evaded either my grasp or attention, until that is last evening, and my goodness what a debut film this is.
44 years old at the time of writing, the film, not your unreliable narrator, Thief still stands the test of cinematic time and frankly that sentence shouldn’t be a surprise to write and I should have watched this marvel far, far sooner than I have. From the film’s almost wordless beginning and through the unhurried and meticulous pinprick visuals we’ve all as fans become accustomed to and a beginning, although I may be getting carried away with myself, strikingly reminiscent of the early frames of 1995’s masterpiece Heat, Mann’s visually striking style is already evident and writ large through the unrushed building of the movie narrative before us and all wrapped in shadows and reflections dripping from the screen like a Chicago rain.
The film is all here in a beautiful opening twenty minutes alone: “Frank” (James Caan) is an ex con and expert safecracker who only deals in diamonds or cash and as he seeks one final life changing score, his notoriety brings him the somewhat unwanted attention of interested third parties. Frank already has a partner “Barry” (James Belushi) and even a mentor “Okla” (Willie Nelson) and whilst trying to evade other suitors on either side of the law he desperately seeks the attention of “Jessie” (Tuesday Weld) to share the life he’s dreamed of living since wasting away in a prison cell many years before. The echoes return of Heat and of Robert De Niro always wary of desiring the life that may distract him from the “heat around the corner” and it’s no doubt the fan in me but the reflections and backdrops employed by Mann here, for Frank’s early morning riverside meeting or the night time meeting to settle a score, reminded me so much of his magnum opus still 14 years away. Shadows and reflections, a shadow of a future still to come, and reflections now on a magnificent debut film that foreshadowed his greatest legacy and a film for the ages.
James Caan is as magnificent and wonderful as the cast he heads noted above. Dennis Farina and William Petersen cameo before they took centre stage 5 years later in Manhunter. Donald Thorin’s cinematography brings Mann’s vision for the film to life spectacularly well and then there’s the Tangerine Dream soundtrack which albeit less noticeable the longer the film runs, is absolutely stunning as Mann sets the table for the visual feast to come.
I think it’s fair to say I rather enjoyed Thief!
And now my Michael Mann collection is finally complete.
Thanks for reading. I hope this message in a bottle in The Matrix finds you well, prospering, and the right way up in an upside down world.
Whilst you’re here I may as well brag about the release of my two recently self-published books. Both are free to read if you subscribe to Amazon Kindle “Unlimited” or reasonably priced in both paperback and hardback. Go on, treat yourself or a loved one and help out an Indie Author! Buy the books if you’re financially able to. They also look far, far better in print!
We HAVE to keep the spirit of reading books alive and well.
Thanks.
"still life, with gooseberry" - link to Amazon
"Rasputin and Raspberry Jam" - link to Amazon