THIEF: Michael Mann's Working Class Tragedy (Ft. For Every Kind of Geek)
2024 ж. 22 Мам.
24 502 Рет қаралды
An analysis of Michael Mann’s debut 1981 feature film Thief, with a look at its depiction of a blue collar struggle in the criminal world, Mann’s realistic depiction of process, and the tragedy it creates. Guest starring For Every Kind of Geek!
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0:00 Intro
1:44 Process
6:17 The Impact of Thief by For Every Kind of Geek
9:19 Destruction
16:30 Outro
Music:
"Thief" OST by Tangerine Dream
"Vampires" by The Midnight
Sources:
www.audienceseverywhere.net/bo...
www.movingimagesource.us/artic...
www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/all-ar...
www.indiewire.com/2014/02/int...
Top-Tier stuff as always, Matt! Thief is an incredibly cool film, and I had a lot of fun talking about it and its impact on the crime genre. Thanks again for letting me be a part of this!
Thank you for taking part! You’re awesome!
Your voice sounds really familiar. Did you have another KZhead channel before For Every Kind of Geek?
@@GuessWho7197 Nope! Although, I actually wanted to do stuff on KZhead since college and kept putting it off lol
The real life gentleman that Caan's character is based from is still with us and resides in Chicago.
@@MattDraper Have you seen To Live and Die in La?
Mann's 'Thief', 'Manhunter', 'The Last of the Mohicans', 'Heat', 'The Insider', 'Collateral' - they're all great films.
How about it? even The Jericho Mile from 1979 was great, one of the best running/prison flicks I've seen.
Blackhat and Public Enemies too
@Russell Collier the best Hannibal lector film
I would include Miami Vice 2006 as well
The villains monologue is among the most chilling/intense I've seen. Hard to believe it was that actors first role
First in film, but Prosky had a history in theater iirc
What made it so chilling was Leo’s 180 from friendly paternal dad to cold and ruthless psychopath overnight. The mask came off and by the time you realize it it’s too late.
I originally watched Thief just because I thought the cover was cool and was blown away by how incredible the film actually was. The diamond heist was one of the most visually breathtaking scenes ever and the intense final act with Tangerine Dream‘s soundtrack solidified this film as a masterpiece to me.
Just watched Thief tonight because of your video. It was a great movie. The diner conversation between Frank and his girlfriend was the best part. Real,honest dialogue. After seeing this, it’s easy to see how Michael Mann went to executive produce the TV show Miami Vice and make it an enormous hit.
That diner convo scene is one of my favourites in any movie. It's so raw and real. Two people taking a risk laying it all on the line in front of each other.
Leo's speech is the best . But the diner conversation is used at some of the best acting schools in the world Lee Strauss has his students even act it out
Just got this on Criterion!, It was amazing
I bought it, too
Same here.
In my Top 10 great films of all time, it's as dynamic today as it was in 1981, a masterpiece.
Same it's my favourite film.
James Caan’s performance here is without peer.
His greatest performance. Rest in Power
Thief is as good as they get for a first feature. Everything was laid out and the foundation was put down for a great run of films by Mann and the various teams he put together over the years. Thanks for the excellent analysis by you and Every Kind of Geek.
One of the best works of Mann. Thank you Matt for making video on this.
Fun Facts: M. Mann hired Dennis Farina & John Santucci as technical advisors. Farina was a former Chicago cop & Santucci a former, real-life burglar. Farina even arrested Santucci years ago, for burglary. And the most funny thing is: Santucci plays the corrupt cop while Farina plays the henchman of the gangsterboss, in the movie. Both of them worked again with M. Mann in the tv-shows Crime Story & Miami Vice. Sadly, Santucci's acting career went downhill, he returned to crime in the 90's and was arrested & convicted for burglary. R.I.P James Caan, Dennis Farina
Wow santucci got a break few people would ever have in life and he still went back to being a two bit criminal. Makes you wonder about people.
Two words... TANGERINE DREAM. Mann really has a gift for choosing appropriate scores and songs for his work.
Ah TD my favorite band their music is the soundtrack to my life I've been a fan for almost 50 years and have been to 6 of their concerts over the years. Another great movie with their soundtrack is Sorcerer which came out before Thief
Matt, your attention to detail in these videos is outstanding. Your taste in film is also top quality. Great job on these videos.
An all time great movie, one of James Cann's favorites, and mine----RIP Mr Caan
I put off watching this because I wanted to watch the film first and now that I have, I’m here to be amazed by Matt’s brilliant analysis
R.I.P. James Caan...Thief was one of your best roles.
One of my all time favorites! So many great scenes, so many quotable line! So many life lessons! "My money in 24 hours, or you will wear your ass for a hat." Please do MOHICANS next!
“I change cars like some guys change their socks!” Would love to cover Mohicans!
"I am the LAST guy that you want to f**k with!" "We're your new partners! We're in for ten points!" "YOU can put YOUR money on the street. MY money goes in the bank!"
My God, what an analysis!! I musta seen "Thief" hundreds of times, but never did I see the classist/exploitation subtext. Well done, Matt. Well done! Consider me subscribed!
This is a real underrated masterpiece. One of my all time favorites. In my opinion the movie takes on the question of the individual in society issue at its core. I liken it to films like One Flew Over the Cukoos Nest and Cool Hand Luke. Not to say it's not a classic crime drama also. But I find it asking the question; exactly where and how do I fit in? Frank is accomplished, confident and exceptionally skilled but ultimately a loner. Because he doesn't trust, because he's unable to trust? Difficult to say. But like Luke and Randle in Cukoos Nest in the end he knows no other way than to do things his way. Consequences be dammed. Men like this are always either admirable or dangerous or both. In any event they make for the most compelling characters. The Greeks said ' character is destiny " This film brings that point home. A great great film. People who think it's just a crime drama. Don't get it.
Great essay on my favourite film. Fantastic got to be Mann's best one.
I actually plan to get Thief at the upcoming Criterion sale at Barnes and Noble and this video just cemented that. Great video Matt, you and Doug really got to what makes Thief not only a great movie, but how the elements of our system impacts the people below the 1%, as well as a fantastic beginning for Michael Mann’s filmography. Hope there will be more Mann videos in the future.
Thanks! So glad Criterion put this out. More Mann to come for sure
Fantastic analysis of my all-time favourite movie. I love everything about Thief and its vibe is simply indescribable.
One of James Caan's most underrated roles. I didn't realise this was Michael Mann's film debut. I thought it was the TV series *"Miami Vice"!*
He worked in TV before (wrote episodes of "Starsky & Hutch and "Police Story").
Jehrico mile was his debut. Though I'm not sure if that actually got a general release.
@@ironhandscrypto4446Jericho Mile was made for TV. Thief was his theatrical debut.
I was frequently in Chicago on business in 1981. I loved the city. So, it was a real treat to see this film in the theater (at home). Of course, I was a fan of the leads but I saw that the film was different to others. This clip has helped me to understand how and why.
Rest in peace James Caan 1940-2022
I'm a huge Micheal Mann fan, and I absolutely love Thief.
Excellent! More Michael Mann please! I am hoping for your brilliant narration, review, and analysis on Collateral.
I'd love to hear Matt dissect some of the works of Wong Kar-wai. I feel like that's a match made in heaven.
Yeah I’d love to cover Wong Kar-Wai!
As pure a masterclass as there ever was.
What a soundtrack to this film, one of the best & what a directorial debut, excellent review, thanks for posting.
Excellent stuff Matt. One of my all time favorite movies (the Criterion edition cover is my phone backdrop for the past 5 years) and Caan's best role, no doubt. Mann is my fav director and I always have a hard time deciding which movie of his is my favorite. I usually keep vacillating depending on which one I am watching at the moment lol. But I ALWAYS come back to THIEF so it has to be top three (with Manhunter and Heat). And I have owned three different versions of the Tangerine Dream score :-)
R.I.P. James Caan.
Love some Michael Mann and crime/noir movies in general. Favorite of Mann's might be Manhunter. If I could reccomend a hidden gem noir, it'd be the 1951 film He Ran All The Way. Wondering what Mann film we get next year. Maybe Miami Vice or Blackhat? 👀
Awesome, thanks Matt!
Great Assessment guys
Amazing analysis and very illuminating, thank you.
Nice outro music 👌🏼 Anyone who knows The Midnight has solid taste Also, very great review! Helped me to notice some stuff I had initially missed!
Michael Mann is the greatest urban director ever 👏.
Thanks Matt for video. Was not aware that Theif was an michael mann movie
Great video!
Absolute kino
Some little known fact: Manns team reached out to Pink Floyd to use their score of Comfortably Numb from the Wall album for the end scenes. Pink Floyd declined permissions but due to the popular chord progressions and total lack of lyrics they were able to pull off a 'slightly numb' musical score. It begins as soon as Frank pumps 2 rounds from his .45 into Leo's chest. Listen to Comfortably Numb (if your not familiar with it) then play "Leo Gets His Oats' from the movie. You'll see.
Great videa as usual!!! Not many tackle Thief... Now you have to make a video on The Keep and Mann's choice of music!!! Thanx!!!
Thought this was gonna be about the video game. Equally good outcome.
Mann I have this soundtrack on vinyl and it is so good. This movie was no next level I couldn’t appreciate it till I was an adult, same with Heat.
I have it as well and the original lobby card framed in my basement. Love this movie.
@@DorianTwist oh man I wanna see it. An original would be really nice to have 🤙
Really good analysis. Very much improved my already high opinion on this film.
For sure one of my top 5 Mann films
I would be forever grateful if you would consider doing a video over Drive. Mainly just to hear your buttery voice talking about my favorite movie.
Thief is perfect neo noir awesome review I hope you cover more Michael mann
R.I.P my favorite actor oat, James Caan
Although I am not familiar I am watching and commenting on all your content because I think you have great potential
Thanks for the video Matt! In real life french thief Redoine Faid was inpired by Mann's work end even met him in France. He even wrote a book about his life of burglaries and robberies called Outlaw. Best wishes from Brazil!
I had no idea about this. Amazing!
One of the best movies ever made ✨️ ❤🎉
Can you imagine this film being made today? No, I can't either.
Now Mann is producing Tokyo Vice which is as good as anything before
I cant help thinking with could have been a prequel to Heat.
Movie looks very well filmed.
A good film with an excellent screenplay but a hole to it's center, the incredible naivete of its protagonist. He believes in honor among thrives, trusts a crime boss's promise that he can stop working for when he wants, which is doubly naive of him to believe after he allows himself to become indebted to said crime boss.
Awesome movie one of my favorites
Very cool movie. Intense, scary, realistic.
If you look online you'll find dozens of fawning reviews and videos about how great "Drive" is, and although it is a good movie, it literally rips off everything from the much superior "Thief," even down to the soundtrack.
Michael The Mann's masterpiece
I love this movie. I have the original lobby card framed in my basement/ man-cave.
My boys, together at last ❤️
💚💚💚
My only complaint was the ending; I wanted frank to be able to retire with Jessi. I think he deserved that much!!
Caan's take on the character is that, since Frank's so determined/bull-headed to get what he wants, his next mission would be to recover everything he'd lost...perhaps including Jessie and their child.
Mr. Draper, any plans for a video on favorite Miami vice episodes?
That would be cool!
I don't know how Thief escaped my radar. My favourite Mann films are a toss up between Heat and Collateral.
Mann's filmography is so diverse you want crime noire you got thief and heat psychological thrillers manhunter and collateral historical epic last of the mohicans he can do it all
très bon
Dude owns a car dealership, why the hell does he need to steal? Great movie, but that bugged me
I want Michael Mann to direct a punisher movie.
Love movies with regular looking people
7:30
Frank Hohimer is my great uncle
11:33
13:46 I haven’t watched the movie yet. Thanks for spoiling a pivotal scene POS
👍🏻
He wants an ideal instead of a relaity. True. His ideology is a cloak from the actual world we live in. There is no honor among thieves. He thinks a crime boss should be trusted? How naive can one be?
You try to apply the criminal element of Mann's film to a correlative of a capitalist system. In the legal world of business, one signs a contract for their labor, and if he is not paid, there is someone standing in the wings called a lawyer. Can one do this in the criminal world where agreements are dome on good faith? Frank is incredibly delusional in thinking that he can have a normal life with the business he is in in and the men he does business with.
10:30
Cruise is Vincent. Max is Foxx.
Woops!
It's also Mann's most visually sumptuous fipms - never knew Mann was so much into neon hitting shiny cars and wet streets. Also,Refn so absurdly ripped off Thief right.doen to the title.font.
Watch Thief and go play GTA V it hits different
1:24 absolutely wrong . Its not a story of the pursuit of a blue collar profession . *** Its a story of a convict with a dream transposed on a collage ".. Its about a man trying to catch up on time... His dreams rely on doing alot in a shorter amount of time to achieve his goal.. Frank called them .."mini moves"... "magic act" ect...
Watch Thief. Then watch Blade Runner.
I wonder if Mann would agree with your socialist take on "Thief." Otherwise, nicely encapsulated. I'll have to catch your view of "Heat" and "Manhunter."
I think you could be imprinting your own beliefs (or some you've heard) about society onto the plot and characters (anti-capitalism, for instance). Frank's struggle "against the system" is really an internal struggle between what he knows and what he does. Real self-esteem comes from setting and achieving RATIONAL goals. To do that you must do so by rational means, and he isn't, he is stealing, and he knows this. Even if he doesn't say it, he knows his actions in the world are immoral. His treatment at the hands of the prison system is awful and heartbreaking, but in order to understand this we must see how such a system could come to exist. One of the few true roles of Government is to house prisoners, but in the world of this movie (1980's) Government is doing so much other stuff that it needn't in society that it doesn't do the jobs it is supposed to do properly. Frank's awful prison years are as a result of bad Government policy and priority. Frank has a dream, but he is pursuing it irrationally. Even if he reached it he wouldn't be happy. The societal systems we live in are created by ideas, and to a certain point perpetuated by us and our ideas.
Drive is a similar movie. Very good in many same ways. Thief is better but Drive is great too. Ryan gosling
Absolute worthless analysis of this fine movie. Jamming capitalism, freedom, blue collar life and references to the 'system' and everything else this clot can throws at it diminishes the truth of this film. Frank loves freedom and rejects knuckling down to Leo. He refuses to acquiesce and knows he has to reject the claims of businesses, family and possibly life itself to secure that freedom. The neo-Marxist BS preached in this 'analysis' is rubbish and has no place in this film whatsoever. It is the story of a man looking to redeem his formerly worthless life, establish a family, taking a shortcut and being betrayed by what he thought was a close friend. He triumphs over what would make most surrender and, hopefully, in the end, goes back to find his family. No one, without a mindset like Frank's, could have pulled that off. Frank is that man who knows freedom is more valuable than life itself. And he'll do ANYTHING to keep his. A GREAT film!
8:50