Thief (DVD Review)

"What are you doing in your life that is so terrific?"


I think I've finally completed my set o' Michael Mann trading cards, although not 100% whether I've seen all of The Keep. definetly seen some of it though. Thief is his first feature film, although he had done some tv prior (including an episode of Police Woman, woah Anjie). this is quite good for a first feature and shows off many of Mr. Mann's tricks that he's still using today (in films like Collateral). the story of a professional film who is kidding himself into believing he can have it both ways, it is well made, well shot and well acted by a top drawer cast (James Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Willie Nelson, Robert Prosky) that is only let down by Mann's script which is a little threadbare. Tangerine Dream's score is overwrought (and was nominated for a Razzie), but they're always a guilty pleasure of mine. The opening scene is pure Mann as he cajoules the camera into the little nooks and crannies of the frame detail essaying the cracking of a safe. James Caan's pistol style is also uncannilly similar to Tom Cruise's in Collateral.
How on earth this film got an R rating is beyond me. Sure, there's some blood in the second half, but no sex and only a couple of curse words. maybe it's such a minor title they didn't bother to re-review it. now the need to release The Keep so I can have my set.
The DVD is threadbare to say the least, letterboxed, but not anamorphically enhanced, Surround only, and no extras. And the transfer is awfully grainy. Why it doesn't include the Mann/James Caan laserdisc commentary, 5.1 and restored scenes on the R1 is anyone's guess (especially since MGM released both). Maybe it's a rights issue?