Seemingly emerging with many of his career trademarks already on display, THIEF (1981) is writer and director Michael Mann's film debut and features the auteur's usual meticulous attention to detail and commitment to realism in this terrific crime revenge thriller. When strictly freelance diamond heist expert Frank's fence meets an untimely demise he is forced into a meeting with mafia boss Leo (Robert Prosky), who persuades him to undertake one last, lucrative job. Somehow feeling fresh despite the familiar tropes (even for the time), Mann hired ex-con John Santucci as a consultant to help bring a level of authenticity to the events of the movie which is never more evident than in the film's opening scenes, where Caan was specifically trained how to crack a safe. After THE GODFATHER, James Caan rates this as containing some of his finest work, especially an intimate conversation in a diner scene with romantic co-lead Jessie (the incredibly named Tuesday Weld) as they share their twisted version of the American Dream. Frank is an unrepentant recidivist but is sympathetic in his own way and his strong code is at odds with the fantastically assembled cast of amoral bad guys - many making their debut including GREMLINS 2 THE NEW BATCH's Prosky - who seem like almost genial and very ordinary middle-aged men until they are suddenly terrifying and dangling you over a vat of acid.
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