Thank you. I completely agree: I thought this movie was crap. There are soooo many better heist flicks out there (incl
-
marsellus7 — 19 years ago(March 15, 2007 07:50 AM)
Here here! Glad some Thief lovers have got my back! I bought this movie on for about 5 a few years ago solely because of James Caan and Michael Mann. I had never seen it before. I loved it instantly. This film wipes the floor with Mann's recent crap (a.k.a. Miami Vice).
Excellent comments bo_nidle. -
jjcoachjmr2 — 19 years ago(March 17, 2007 08:58 PM)
My college library happened to have the book "The Home Invaders" by Frank Hohimer, upon which "Thief" is based. Being a big fan of Thief, I borrowed The Home Invaders and finished it in two days. Many basic principals about stealing laid out in the book by Hohimer were shown in Thief, as well as Mann's tv show "Miami Vice."
Like others, I clearly see the connection between Heat and Thief. For me, Heat is Thief with a large budget. Cann's character of Frank had similarities with DeNiro's character. Frank is a little more hard-edged and cynical, particularly in his explanation of his ability to get his thinking to where "nothin' means nothin'" to Tuesday Weld's character in the coffee shop. He clearly has this mindset after his partner is killed by Leo and he throws her out of the house, then preceeding to blow it up, along with The Green Mill bar, and his auto dealership.
Criticism of the film's score by Tangerine Dream is subjective. One poster said it sounded like a kid playing a Casio keyboard. Not so. Most of the score is electronic, but is layered with electric guitars, not unlike some of Heat's score, particularly when Hannah is in the LA police helicopter tracking Neil on the freeway. The music does tend to date the movie, but so do the cars and the hairstyles. Anyone here think that "Hustle and Flow" won't look or sound dated five, ten or twenty-five years from now? It will look as timeless as the roller disco episode in "CHiPs."
The laserdisc issue of Thief includes an audio Q and A session with Mann during the film's release with members of the media and provides additional insight about the structure of the movie, along with the commentary found on the DVD, which is the same as on the LD.
Mann's pattern of movies has tended to be hit or miss, this one's a hit. -
nickt030 — 18 years ago(May 19, 2007 05:59 AM)
"How come this movie have 7.2/10? Duh! Because a lot of viewers rated it that way! You numbnut!
Get your grammar correct before you bash a movie! This is what you should have written!
Why does this movie have a rating of 7.2/10? It's because a lot of viewers liked this movie! If you don't like this movie, then deal with the fact that you are in the minority!!
My vote: 10/10!!
Now quit being a troll!! -
bandini21 — 18 years ago(May 26, 2007 02:08 AM)
parkermj, there is nothing to discuss when one have such an awful, intellectually impotent opinion it's obviously been a long time since you posted this. Let's hope you're capable of sticking head out of your as* once in awhile to watch things closely these days, (in this case you couldn't for sure) not bothering fans of cinema with bullsh*t lines such as "disjointed disaster of a movie with terrible, inane dialogue and laughable direction".
And this underrated, forgotten gem should have higher rating than it has now. At least 8.0/10. But what can you expect when people put movies like beep "Departed" on 33th place on IMDB 250 Top Movies of All Time?! -
cdellier — 18 years ago(October 30, 2007 12:32 AM)
no kidding! anyone who would make a statement like that knows very little about film. I'm sorry but Heat doesn't touch this movie,especially in authenticity.(there's a reason it's James Caan's favorite role)if you watch recent shows like Las Vegas,Caan is still incorporating elements of that character (Frank) in his new roles. Last of the Mohicans is better? "ka-thunk" (the sound of me falling off my chair laughing!)and no ..Collateral is not that great either.
-
Mr Blue-4 — 18 years ago(May 27, 2007 04:38 PM)
You're flat out wrong. This was "cool" when I saw it in high school in the '80s, and now I see it for the deeper work it is (back then it was easy to be distracted by the score and the look: we didn't know that "Miami Vice" would be a weekly version of this in a few years).
The directing and acting in this hold up. It's an urban crime film: whadya expect, Noel Coward? They talk the way these guys really talk, not the least of which is because a bunch of guys in the movie are the real deal. If you like Last of the Mohicans over this, I don't know -
robhumanick — 18 years ago(March 29, 2008 11:35 AM)
Heck, if it's in good shape I'll take it for that price.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/author-12145/ -
m-slovak79 — 16 years ago(April 19, 2009 03:57 PM)
well i also think it's (Thief (1981)) a little overrated to. i just got done seeing it for the first time a few moments ago and
it's definitely not bad but it's nothing special unlike Mann's other films like 'Heat' (1995) (10/10) and 'Collateral' (2004) (9/10, my 2nd favorite 'Hitman Themed' film ever behind 'Leon' (1994) 133min version) which are his masterpieces.
James Caan was solid in his role but the film as a whole just aint nothing special unlike the two Mann films i mentioned above.
all in all i give it a 6/10 (if i had to choose a 5 or 7 i would say 7 it's probably more like a 6.5/10)
My Vote History
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=11026826