"Thief" is an unusual film in that there are no heroes....only thugs. The lead is the anti-hero, Frank (James Caan), a career thief who is great at his job...but who also is a loner. The rest of the folks in the film, including the cops and a judge, are crooks and cannot be trusted. But at least with Frank, what he says he will do, he will do...and so he's honest...in his own way.
While Frank is doing great on his own committing various high value robberies, he is approached by a mobster who seems to have everyone in his pockets. Leo (Robert Prosky) has a proposition...to rob a seemingly impenetrable safe. Frank agrees...but insists it's his last job, as he's retiring to a life as a husband and family man.
Amazingly, the actual robbery goes off very quickly and well...and the film actually spends very little time on what you assume will be the big finale. But instead, there is some misdirection...and 30 more minutes to the story after this deal is complete. Why? What is next? See the film.
Normally, stories with no heroes are very hard to watch and enjoy...but the story works so well with so many fine performances, direction and a great script that it manages to overcome the lack of likable people in the film. It's taut and exciting....and well worth seeing even if nearly everyone in the story is scum.
By the way, for 1981 the story is pretty rough and is NOT a film I'd recommend you see with kids or your mother. The language is very tough and the story is at times quite violent.
While Frank is doing great on his own committing various high value robberies, he is approached by a mobster who seems to have everyone in his pockets. Leo (Robert Prosky) has a proposition...to rob a seemingly impenetrable safe. Frank agrees...but insists it's his last job, as he's retiring to a life as a husband and family man.
Amazingly, the actual robbery goes off very quickly and well...and the film actually spends very little time on what you assume will be the big finale. But instead, there is some misdirection...and 30 more minutes to the story after this deal is complete. Why? What is next? See the film.
Normally, stories with no heroes are very hard to watch and enjoy...but the story works so well with so many fine performances, direction and a great script that it manages to overcome the lack of likable people in the film. It's taut and exciting....and well worth seeing even if nearly everyone in the story is scum.
By the way, for 1981 the story is pretty rough and is NOT a film I'd recommend you see with kids or your mother. The language is very tough and the story is at times quite violent.