Thief at 40: The Blueprint - 40th Anniversary Video | Movie Birthdays 

Thief is a very underrated film that is one of the best crime movies out there.

Thief is my all-time favourite film. Just a straight up masterpiece.

Michael Mann's movies always reminded me of a 1980's version of a 1940's/50's film noir. Especially in his dialogue and style.👍

This film and soundtrack still hold up. Mann would cast real life thieves to play cops and cops to play thieves. I always felt that Neil McCauley in Mann's Heat was Frank.

Michael Mann, is the greatest urban director ever 👏.

Just saw Thief (81) and now I understand why Heat (95) was so good because it was essentially 14 years in the making. Your breakdown of Thief is the best I've seen.

Can't talk about Mann's film "Thief" without mentioning his early work in American television on crime shows like Starsky & Hutch and Police Story. Then, in 1979, Mann wrote and directed the made-for-TV movie "The Jericho Mile" about prison life (shot in Folsom Prison) and where he became friendly with a few cons. Some of those experiences (and contacts) led to the film "Thief."

The synth music in the b.g of your video compliments this review to this spectacular film perfectly.

Mann used the photo concept in Collateral as well with Foxx’s character when he’s looking for an escape and a dream to come true. Nicely done! Thief is a very cool film!

Great movie! Leo was a great capo. His speech was classic. Movie reminds me of Drive w Ryan gosling a little bit.

In Memory Of James Caan. More than just Sonny Corleone.

OMG, this movie was intense. I recently told my daughter Mary to put it on her watch list.

Back in 1983 I took my girl Cathy Rose to see this movie. The day after she, my girl, cut my hair to ok look just like James Caan. Damn, I looked good. Thanks Jimmy. Rob...

Great analysis of a fantastic film. Always loved Frank's black and blue wardrobe as if it represents too the knocks one takes (beaten black and blue, if you will) while traveling through life...or in his case the night.

This is a beautiful exposition of Mann's themes and visual motifs. Great editing too. You really captured the moods.

That is a fantastic video you put together, very nicely done! and you included my favorite Mann shot of all time. The shot where Frank and the fisherman are looking over the water at sunrise - That's magic........that's what that is.

Looks unreal on whatever format it is here.

Interesting the unexpected clip from "To Live and Die in L.A." on top of the Century Plaza Hotel. ??????

I was unfamiliar with this film and never knew it was Michael Mann’s first motion picture. I can’t wait to watch the whole thing. It looks like an amazingly shot and visualizing stimulating watch. Great breakdown.

These are amazing keep building a catalog!

Thanks for doing a video of this movie!

Great video. What I love about Michael Mann’s crime films (I should say projects actually) is that it balances characterisation with the spectacle on screen. Thief, Manhunter, and ultimately Heat, are films that progressively expand Mann’s style in spectacle... and yet never waiver from their characterisation. Thief’s characterisation is rich, multi layered. Heat would brilliantly expand this even further, and Collateral will expand this even further by pitting the outcast against the average joe (i.e. the audience) I find it almost ironic that Thief was Mann’s first film, since his vision of the urban counterfeit world has become a trademark, that went on to inspire older directors such as William Friedkin with To Live & Die in LA and, to a certain extent, John Frankenheimer with 52 Pick Up. Friedkin’s film has further expanded this with the sun drenched images of LA fitting perfectly with the films villain. Thief is the perfect introduction to Mann’s world, we have the rain soaked concrete, neon lit urban jungle that is Frank’s world, and the brilliant score by Tangerine Dream, showcases the despair and goals that Frank has set for himself. James Caan has the role of his career with Thief, yes The Godfather is IMO the better film, but Thief demonstrates Caan’s strengths and unique delivery. FYI, reportedly he turned down Blade Runner to do this film. Frank is the typical Mann protagonist, jaded. grey, the man dreams of going straight and the collage he managed to put together is the hope of that dream becoming a reality... however he rushes into something he knows it too good to be true due to lack of time. These are themes that Mann would revisit... Heat further refined these themes, the outlaw is more disciplined, but he is also more tightly wound... so much so that by the end he has no choice but to go down a path of ruin. By Collateral, the outlaw has become an old hand, fed up, losing the edge that made him the man that he is... and is eventually bested by the in denial dreamer that is the average joe. Keep up the great work. Cannot wait till your next video👍.

Great video. Genuinely baffles me after all these months that this channel hasn't blown up in popularity with such an impressive catalog. Keep it up man, I'd recommend Éric Rohmer's The Green Ray (1986), which soon turns 35, if you get an itch for something foreign.

At 1:37 you mention that "Thief" and it's gritty, synth-driven neon crime aesthetic were highly influential during the rest of the '80s. I'm not 100%, but I think the three short clips are of "To Live And Die In L.A.", "8 Million Ways To Die" and "52 Pick-Up" respectively - is that right? I just discovered your channel, really excellent, detailed and stylish work all round - Michael Mann would be proud.

Last good role for James Caan in a great film.

thanks much

It is the top 3 Mann movies.

yoo do you think the emphasis on the reflections of city lights & signs onto the cars etc after the betrayal is a nod to Plato's Cave?? "Slowly, his eyes adjust to the light of the sun. First he can see only shadows. Gradually he can see the reflections of people and things in water and then later see the people and things themselves. Eventually, he is able to look at the stars and moon at night until finally he can look upon the sun itself."

When you talked about nature in Michael Mann's film, you should have shown Ali, when Will Smith runs through the jungles of Zaire.

Great analysis, bravo!

One of the best films with subtext about capitalist exploitation. It becomes all too clear in one scene when the gang boss finishes him off by making it clear to him that he's practically nothing without him, or indirectly telling him that he owns the means of production.

Thank you for this.

YEEEESSSSSSS

Hey! Love the name intro with the sliding door. LOL Nice touch!

this was great, thank you

🔥🔥

Very adroit analysis

What’s the music you used at the end? It sounds awesome!

Do you want to know why there's no votes down because Leo and his two goons got whacked