Blu-Ray Review: Thief (1981)

Thief (1981)
Director: Michael Mann
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Starring: James Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Robert Prosky, Willie Nelson

Plot Synopsis: Career criminal Frank (Caan) wants to call it quits, but can only do so by performing one last heist. What he doesn't know is how hard that will be after getting involved with the wrong people.

Criterion brings us Thief in a Blu/DVD combo package that showcases this gorgeous film like no other release of it ever has. Let's dig into this awesome package a bit to see what's in store.

Video Quality

I first saw this film on DVD, and that's the only way I've ever seen it, so when Criterion announced this for release I was more than excited because the DVD left a lot to be desired. Well, I'm happy to report this transfer looks fucking gorgeous! From the little details like close-up's of electronic equipment to the grand scale cityscapes of Chicago's skyscrapers, it is near flawless. There are a few soft establishing shots, but that appears to be due to the original elements and is no fault of the transfer itself. There is a light layer of grain over the whole film that is totally unobtrusive and gives Thief a nice filmic look and feel. This is a great transfer from top to bottom. 4.75/5

Special Features

Commentary:
This commentary has been ported over from the prior DVD release that features Mann and Caan in a fun and lively discussion of the film.

Michael Mann Interview:
A 2012 interview done by Criterion with the Director in which he reveals a few choice cuts of information that I've never heard before. HD/25 minutes.

James Caan Interview:
Another recent interview with the Thief himself. It's pretty great listening to Caan reminisce about stories from the film. He recalls a few stories in which he reveals maybe a bit too much information regarding thievery and how good he became at it. HD/10 minutes

Johannes Schmoelling of Tangerine Dream Interview:
A nice little interview recalling the development and creation of the unforgettable and mesmerizing score which pulsates throughout the film. HD/15 minutes

Packaging

Criterion has put together a nice little package here with the cover featuring  James Caan as the titular Thief looking off in the distance, perhaps contemplating the choices he's made in his life, which really sums up a lot of this film. The disc art is equally great, with that awesome handwritten font illuminating as bright as the welding sparks in the film. In addition to everything already mentioned, you also get a nice booklet featuring an essay by film critic Nick James and some gorgeous artwork and photography.

Final Word

Beautiful packaging, new special features, wonderful transfer of an amazing film. Pick this shit up now!! 5/5

                          



Thief (1981)

Large William stated that if you hadn’t seen “Thief”, you weren’t cool. After watching Michael Mann’s first film, I can see why he made such a bold statement. “Thief” is the personification of cool! It’s slickly directed, well acted, polished cinematography and a rocking soundtrack by Tangerine Dream! To bring it all home is an always welcome plot of a safecracker getting caught up with the mafia.

One could take a look at “Thief” and write it off as an average portrait of a criminal. Trying my best not to sound elitist, I’d tell them that they’re wrong. Mann may take what many would consider to be a regular plot and infuse it with energy and finesse. Besides, who cares if the story is familiar? All that matters if it’s engaging or not. “Thief” is highly engaging!

One of the most telling features of “Thief” is that Michael Mann found his niche early on. A good chunk of his trademarks are present in his first film. The grim and damp Chicago setting in the day that turns into a shining beacon of light overnight. The use of neon lights bouncing off of cars and windows to contract the darkness is a thing of beauty! The used car sale lot is stunning to look at after dark!

The most telling attribute is Mann’s attention towards a life of crime. He’s known taking a close look at someone involved in organized crime. Here, it revolves around Frank (James Caan), a self-employed safecracker trying to make enough money to settle into a normal life. He wants to marry and raise children with Jessie (Tuesday Weld), going so far to tell her of his criminal background (which he never told his first wife). He’s not the most pleasant guy (he’ll be the first to pull a gun when anger overcomes him), but he is devoted. There’s a touching moment between he and his mentor, Okla (Willie Nelson), that I won’t go into details to prevent spoiling it.

He’s against the idea of working with the mafia, preferring to work solely with his close friends, preferably Barry (James Belushi). Leo (Robert Prosky) is able to convince him to join his team to crack a highly secured safe. If he does so, he and Barry will net eighty-three thousand dollars. This is more than enough to allow Frank to live comfortably for the rest of his life. As anybody with a brain cell can tell, it’s not going to go down like that.

James Caan commands the screen as Frank! The only person to give him a run for his money is Robert Prosky. When the two of them share a scene (such as when Frank confronts Leo), it’s deep fried gold! It’s a tossup for me on whether or not the dialogue scenes are the best in the film or the safecracking is. One on hand, we have the aforementioned interactions between Frank and company (he and Weld have tremendous chemistry and I liked his friendship with Belushi). On the other, we have those wonderful scenes in the warehouse where Frank is getting assistance on discovering a way to crack the high-tech safe. Watching the sparks fly and the iron meld is as manly and gorgeous as they come!

Though it’ll always be a tossup, I’d currently argue that “Thief” is Michael Mann’s best film! It’s slick and entertaining and almost never misses a beat (there’s a brief spot between the actual heist and the aftermath that feels dry and could have been cut)! It also clearly helped inspire Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive”, which is one of my favorite films. It has enough working for it in it’s favor for it to take this honor for many days to come.

MVT: It’s hard deciding between James Caan’s performance or Michael Mann’s direction, but I’ll go with the director this time out. His visual style compliments the film and Frank’s actions. In another director’s hands, it could have easily been a great performance by Caan in a mediocre film.

Make or Break: The opening. It’s only apropos that Mann starts out with a heist involving Frank, Barry and their crew to warm the audience into the picture. It does a damn fine job in doing so!

Final Rating: 9.75/10