This is topic Thief (1981) in forum « 80's Movies at iRewind Talk.


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Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
 
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Just watched Thief and it was pure movie magic!

This was Michael Mann´s first feature film and he was already firing on all cylinders.

Starring James Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi and Robert Prosky.
Caan is fantastic and Prosky gives a superb performance as the mob boss.

The Tangerine Dream score is one of their best.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBUdTcxotmI&feature=related

Any fans?

Finnish dvd cover
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[ 12. May 2013, 07:55: Message edited by: aTomiK ]
 
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
Phenomenal movie all around...one of Michael Mann's best. And I agree, A. This is Tangerine Dream's best soundtrack.
 
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
 
Good film, haven't seen it in a long time though but recall James Caan was very cool in this role.
 
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
 
I've got this next in line to be sent from my online rental service,never seen it but it does look and sound pretty awesome,remember seeing the big box vhs/beta warner video in my local video shop back in the days under its alternative title of violent streets.
 
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
 
Check it out asap, warrior! Fantastic movie!
Didn´t know that it was also called Violent Streets.

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Posted by Dutch Gannon (Member # 10167) on :
 
Watched it for the first time a couple of years ago with my brother and he and I were blown away, awesome movie for all the reasons listed above. James Caan's best role, better than the Godfather in my opinion. It was because of this movie and To Live and Die in L.A that I went back and revisted Manhunter and found it to be better that Silence of the Lambs.

quote:
Originally posted by Crash:
Phenomenal movie all around...one of Michael Mann's best. And I agree, A. This is Tangerine Dream's best soundtrack.

Tangerine Dream was on fire in the 80's, this was good but I have to say their best in my opinion was Firestarter, great soundtrack. Which one is better in your guy's opinions? Which is best Tangerine Dream soundtrack, don't forget Sorcerer.

[ 16. May 2013, 05:09: Message edited by: Dutch Gannon ]
 
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
 
The best Tangerine Dream soundtrack?

Well, if you count the 1989 360° movie Destination Berlin, i would say that one.

I like Sorcerer very much, moody 70s stuff and fits for the excellent film nicely.

Thief of course and Firestarter is a great one and another favorite.
I also love Miracle Mile (cool and frantic end of the world feel) and Flashpoint (damn, i want to see this one again. i own the soundtrack on lp).

I also remember that Wavelength and Heartbreakers had cool tunes. I need to check out the movies again.
 
Posted by Dutch Gannon (Member # 10167) on :
 
Wavelength, Heartbreakers, Destination Berlin, and Miracle Mile have not seen them. Are they good, what genera are they?
 
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
I like all the Tangerine Dream soundtracks. In addition to all those mentioned so far, The Soldier is excellent too.
 
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
 
Yeah, The Soldier is another good one.
I need to check out that one (and few other Ken Wahl flicks) again sometime soon.

Dutch, Destination Berlin is a documentary film about Berlin, made with a 360 degree camera.

Wavelength is an atmospheric sci-fi film set in an underground military facility.

Heartbreakers is a fun sex dramedy.
I´m going to watch it again one of these days and give more comments.

Miracle Mile is a semi-classic end of the world romantic action thriller you should get asap!
 
Posted by Dutch Gannon (Member # 10167) on :
 
It all sounds good, what about Soilder I assume its not the one with Kurt Russell. I don't think Tangerine Dream did that one.

What about Legend? Is that a good one as well or what? I own both Tangerine Dream and Jerry Goldsmith's orginal and have to say Tangerine Dream's is better even though Goldsmith is great.
 
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
The Soldier is the 1982 Ken Wahl film written and directed by B-movie specialist James Glickenhaus. I would echo aTomiK on Wavelength, sadly underrated sci-fi, and the amazing Miracle Mile, a fantastic doomsday film.

I actually saw Legend in the West End of London in its original version. Both soundtracks, Tangerine Dream and Goldsmith, are wondeful.
 
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
 
Here´s more about Wavelength

Legend is ok but not one of my favorites.
I have the R1 SE dvd which includes both versions.
 
Posted by Dutch Gannon (Member # 10167) on :
 
Crash, you been to london as well? Cool. Seems like everytime I talk to you, you reveal you've been somewhere I'd like to go. Have you ever been to Japan?

Will have to check out Wavelength, speaking of B movie just watched the trailer for Chained Heat with Sybil Danning and Linda Blair never watched it before, know Sybil Danning is not that strong an actress but based on this trailer have to watch this film. This is a true example of good film trailer making. Check it out you guys let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YULgDR2LzP8
 
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
 
i watched thief over the weekend for the first time ever and thought it was most definitely awesome,caan is such a great actor and that tangerine dream score is something else and more or less pounds away the entire movie.

james belushi looks very young here,i'm going to have look up just out of curiosity just to see how old he actually was and that mob boss as played by robert prosky was evil and i was praying he got his just deserts.

crime story's dennis farina also turns up here in a small part as one of the mob hitmen and also i'm sure i recognised to live and die in l.a's william petersen in a very small part where he talks to james caan in a brief scene in a bar.

really great movie,i'm going to try and get my own copy of it,i watched it on a rental which i sadly had to send back.
 
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
 
to answer my own questions how old was james belushi in this he was just 27 and it was william petersen i saw in a brief part as a bartender.
 
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
 
miracle mile that's one i've never seen,heard nothing but good things about it,that's one i've definitely got to check out.
 
Posted by Fightertown (Member # 7418) on :
 
Great film!

I can't wait to see it in blu-ray format. Hopefully with a full audio commentary.
 
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
 
The R1 Special Director´s Edition dvd already includes audio commentary by director Michael Mann and actor James Caan.
My brother has it and i´m pretty sure you´ll find it on the blu-ray too (if they´ll ever release one that is)
 
Posted by Dutch Gannon (Member # 10167) on :
 
Hey Young warrior did you know that the cops in Thief were real life thiefs and some of the mobsters were real life cops?
 
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
 
No I never knew that dutch,that's a cool bit of info .

I wonder if James caan picked up a few tricks of the trade from the thiefs while on the set of the film.
You think james caan could be a Hollywood star by day but a thief by night.

you never know. [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Dutch Gannon (Member # 10167) on :
 
Yeah actually the cop on the take Urizzi not sure of spelling provided technical info from his thief experence.
 
Posted by Nostalgic for the '80's (Member # 37454) on :
 
Huge fan of Mann's 1981 film debut, "Thief". A while back, I watched the Blu-ray Criterion version of Thief and was blown away. The picture quality & anamorphic print are gorgeous. For me, this Blu-ray was literally like seeing the movie for the first time (the several other times I saw the film were on the older non-anamorphic DVD). This new release brings the film from merely good status to great status; it just goes to show how much a sub-par, non-anamorphic print can severely mar the quality of an otherwise excellent movie...

As to the film itself, excellent story & acting. And, the Tangerine Dream score is incredible - to the point that I can't imagine the movie having a score by anyone else. The neon lights, rain-soaked night streets, & early '80's sheer urban vibe of the film are all improved by their music.

One of the many scenes that really stood out here was the POV from the top of Frank's (James Caan) car, and the various neon lights/signs that are reflected on the hood as he's driving late at night.

Also enjoyed the music in the Chicago blues bar where Frank meets Tuesday Weld for their date.

And, the ending was perfect. Frank is very straight-forward & immediately cuts all family ties, then goes and destroys his bar & car dealership to remove all traces of his old life. This is all to set-up the superb confrontation at the very end.
 


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