Thief • The Next Reel

Michael Mann has spent most of his film career exploring the world of crime and the criminals that inhabit it. Not to mention neon lighting. His feature film debut, Thief, certainly started him on the right track. Join us — Pete Wright and Andy Nelson — as we continue our 1981 series with Mann's Thief. We talk about why this film works well for us as well as what elements don't work, really digging into Mann and his proclivity to give short shrift to his female characters. We chat about the truth brought to the film by bringing on real thieves to work as technical advisors, training James Caan to work with real equipment and actually really cracking safes on screen. We talk about the great James Caan as well as the rest of the cast — Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Robert Prosky and more — and what they all bring to the movie. We chat about Tangerine Dream and their music, why Mann hired them, and what, if anything, works with their score. And we really dig into the character arc of Frank played by Caan, discussing how it works in context of the script, and why the actual ending of the screenplay changes his story in a way that works for us even if it doesn't feel very much like a 'Michael Mann' ending. It's a great film that we're happy to revisit. Tune in! Hey! You know what would be awesome? If you would drop us a positive rating on iTunes! If you like what we’re doing here on TNR, it really is the best way to make sure that this show appears when others search for it, plus, it’s just a nice thing to do. Thanks!! The Next Reel on iTunes The Next Reel on Facebook The Next Reel on Twitter The Next Reel on Flickchart The Next Reel on Letterboxd Guess the Movie with The Next Reel on Instagram Check out the Posters with The Next Reel on Pinterest And for anyone interested in our fine bouquet of show hosts: Follow Andy Nelson on Twitter Follow Pete Wright on Twitter Follow Steve Sarmento on Twitter Check out Tom Metz on IMDB Follow Mike Evans on Twitter Follow Chadd Stoops on Twitter Follow Steven Smart on Letterboxd The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements | The Film Board | Movies We Like | The Next Reel | Sitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Web | Letterboxd | Flickchart | Instagram | Bluesky | YouTube | DiscordYour Hosts: Andy | PeteMerch Store | Audible