Thief (1981)

Thief
Directed by Michael Mann
Written by Michael Mann based on a book by Frank Hohimer
1981/US
IMDb page
First viewing/Apple TV free

 

Frank: You’re marking time is what you are. You’re backing off. You’re hiding out. You’re waiting for a bus that you hope never comes because you don’t wanna get on it anyway because you don’t wanna go anywhere. Ok?

Michael Mann’s film debut features some stylish action and the character study of a man trying to change his life in all the wrong ways.

Frank (James Caan) spent 17 of his formative years in prison, starting with a two-year sentence for stealing $40.00.  While there, he earned another 15 years for manslaughter when he killed to protect himself from rape.  He also learned safecracking  from his friend and mentor Okla (Willie Nelson).  As the movie starts, he has been free for four years and is putting this skill to work.

Frank specializes in high stakes jewel and cash heists. He just needs one last big score before he goes straight.  He wants the same thing as many men have – a wife, a child, and a house.  Unfortunately, he has expensive tastes and feels he is running out of time. He sets his sights on diner hostess Jessie (Tuesday Weld) and she agrees to his awkward  and premature proposal.  He gets an offer he is unable to refuse from big-time fence Leo (Robert Prosky).  But his explosive temper is a bad fit for the work Leo has in mind.

The crime story is the old one of the thief in search of one last heist.  This part is brilliantly stylish and reveals Mann’s budding talent.  The character study part kind of misses the mark for me.  I love Tuesday Weld.  She didn’t make nearly enough movies.  This is also probably Caan’s best work as an actor.