Michael Mann's Lost Classic

Mann, director of Heat and Collateral, began his obsession with the world of the career criminal with this stunning film. Thief is about Frank, a man who by day runs a car dealership and several other businesses, but by night, is a proffesional gem thief.Frank loves his little sideline, and is very good at it. After taking down a safe in the opening scene, he passes the merchandise onto his fence, who then meets with an untimely demise at the hands of local mobster, Leo (Robert Prosky, who turns in a terrifying performance)Frank demands his money back, Leo folds and gives it back, but asks him to come and work for him, taking down scores as an employee.

What makes Frank take this risky decision is a sudden and logical need to go straight, find a woman, have kids and live a normal life. And in wanting this dream, he ends up paying dearly.

In an assured and astounding first feature, Mann opens up the neon lit, fast moving work of the career criminal for all to see and provides a thrilling and at times moving portrait of a man who is good at what he does, but just wants to be legit.

Yes, it's old. Yes it feels at times like a product of its time, but mix in James Caan's best performance he ever put on screen, superb support from Tuesday Weld, James Belushi & the aforementioned Robert Prosky, a superb and smart script and a story that gets better with every viewing, and Thief is a superb crime thriller.