Thief (1981)
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A professional safecracker must navigate a dangerous web of betrayal and organized crime after a high-stakes heist goes wrong.
The story
Frank, a convicted jewel thief recently released from prison, attempts to build a legitimate life while maintaining his ties to the criminal underworld in Chicago. After a major heist, a betrayal by his associates forces him into a precarious position. To secure his future and a family, Frank enters into a dangerous agreement with a high-level crime boss, Leo. However, the deal quickly turns sour when Frank realizes he is being manipulated and exploited by the organization. He is forced to make a desperate choice to protect his remaining ties to the normal world while facing the consequences of his past actions in a high-stakes game of survival.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being released from prison, Frank operates a criminal enterprise in Chicago. Following a heist, his partner's death leads him to a deal with a crime boss named Leo. Frank agrees to one final job to secure his future and a child. After a successful heist in Los Angeles, Leo cheats Frank out of his earnings and forces him into another job. When Frank refuses, Leo's men ambush him and threaten his family. Frank decides to cut ties, abandons his home and assets, and confronts Leo. In a final violent confrontation, Frank kills Leo's men and escapes into the night.
- First release year
- 1981
- Runtime (minutes)
- 123
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Mann
- Writers
- Michael Mann · story; Michael Mann · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- James Caan · Frank; Tuesday Weld · Jessie; Willie Nelson · David "Okla" Bertinneau; James Belushi · Barry; Robert Prosky · Leo; Tom Signorelli · Attaglia; Dennis Farina · Carl
- Genres
- neo-noir; crime; action
- Themes
- Loyalty; Betrayal; Identity; Isolation
- Tone and mood
- tense; gritty; moody
- Premise and plot tags
- heist; crime; noir
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Home Invaders: Confessions of a Cat Burglar by Frank Hohimer
- Reception
- The film received widespread critical acclaim and is considered a reference point in Michael Mann's career.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 78 · scale: 100
- Awards and nominations
- Razzie Award · Worst Musical Score · Nominated
- Production trivia
- Michael Mann's feature film debut; The score was composed by Tangerine Dream
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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