Thief is an uneven film with a few great moments. Mann's directorial style and the soundtrack by Tangerine Dream will hold your interest, but ultimately the payoff is lacking. This is more style and atmosphere over substance.
If I had to put it down to why the film doesn't quite work it's because it just never really conveys the motivations of the main characters well, or invests the audience in what happens to them. There are just no likeable characters, not even on the level of comic relief, wittiness or style. Caan's character is a run of the mill bad guy and just not particularly interesting.
Worth watching with expectations kept within reason.
If I had to put it down to why the film doesn't quite work it's because it just never really conveys the motivations of the main characters well, or invests the audience in what happens to them. There are just no likeable characters, not even on the level of comic relief, wittiness or style. Caan's character is a run of the mill bad guy and just not particularly interesting.
Worth watching with expectations kept within reason.