Thief

Clipped from CA, Manitoba, Winnipeg, Winnipeg Free Press, April 6, 1981

. . • • |V*/ • •* rf.W . . .•••«•• * vw.v.v.v..............S'S/.vMOI'X*. * ***. X'l'I'I'Axyi,.v..??:#!lLvv^v,i*!vI*Twk !v!va'’v!v1'/*'!vFrank, (James Caan, right) confronts Attaglia (Tom Signorelli),-Actor Janies CaanVbest perfor-mances have been studies of quiet obsessions. In perhaps his best screen role» The Gambler, he played a university professor who literally played to lose after he dismissed his class.In Thief, Caan agbin plays a character1 with two very different lives. By day, he runs an auto dealership in a Chicago suburb, but, at sundown, he turns into a daring and cunning master Criminal specializing in cracking sup* posedly impenetrable vaults laden with diamonds and cash.r -*•; In a rather effective reversal, writer-director Michael Mann introduces Frank, Caan’s character, involved in a complicated heist. This opening section visually establishes the thiefs precision with heavy tools and obsession with •getting the job done.The following day, it's business asusual for Frank at the car lot. At lunch, he pursues a waitress named Jessie (Tuesday Weld) who views him as just another straight-arrow salesman... Essentially, Thief splits into two stories unified by Caatfs strong central performance. It is clearly an action picture moved along by the elaborate preparations for .a final big score. ItMoviesftfpi LeonardpM Klaclyalso has its quieter moments, examining the budding relationship between Frank and Jessie.Wtole the craft in portraying the mechanics of thievery are exemplary, the humanity and tension of carrying on an ..ordinary family life have a greater impact on what is remembered from the film. Frank’s hopes, plans and passions are immediately recognizable and generate sympathy because of their seeming hopelessness.Frank, who spent 11 years in prison, evolved an image of the ideal life during his years in jail. He has slowly pieced together all the ingredients.-However, it's a fragile dream.The fiercely-independent thief makes a fatal error when he accepts a “sweetheart” deal-from a high-rolling mobster named Leo (Robert Prosky). Leo offers money and organization in ex-a crime boss who tries to rip him off In the movie Thief,a daring thiefchange for Frank’s professional ser- the characters and the hopelessness of vices, but slowly begins to change the their situation becomes a fascinating, deal to Frank’s disadvantage. disquieting experience for audiences.Writer-direclor Michael Mann dem- * Thiefonstrates a keen eye for character OlrededbvMlchae(Martn;screerolavbvWlctiaeltraits and a strong visual sense with hislarge screen debut. He paints the night ihwln; art direction bv Mary Dodson; trilled bvworld of the thief as a frightening neonjungle heightened by a jamng, hlgh-m- Artiste release. At Capital 7. Adult Parental Guld-tensity musical track from the rock ..............................................j3mescaangroup Tangerine Dream. jess*...........................................Tuesday wew0 . . .. . . , Okla.. ................. Wll lie NelsonBut he can t reach comparable Barn-...........................................jamcsBeiushiheights with the story's human de- i ..............................................Rc6«t Prosijvments, As a thief, Frank adopts an can .ZZIZIZZZZI‘1 oenriis Farinanihilistic approach to life and the film follows suit virtually obscuring the * e *compassion established for the charac- One final note on the Oscars,ter. Canadian-born director NormanCaan carries most of the film, mov- Jewison, the producer of this year’sing from an assured, self-motivated show, has received high praise for bothoperator to an intense, fear-ridden mob the live and television presentations ofpuppet. the program. The 1981 edition has beenAs Jessie, who becomes Frank’s rated the best in years by the ficklewife, Tuesday Weld again plays a Hollywood elite,hard-crusted, saft-eentred woman. It’s Would he consider coming back to do.an excellent, if familiar, role for the the 1982 show?actress. Jewison shrugs, “We'll see if theyThief’s study of how a top-notch ask, first.”.criminal is driven deeper into crime Jewison knows the Academy rarelyprovides unique insights for the gang- knocks twice, but don't be surprised ifster film. The underlying humanities of it makes an exception in his case.