Movie review - "Thief" (1981) ***1/2

Michael Mann's first feature has many of his trademarks in place - scenes set with waves crashing in the background and in diners at night, wet roads at night reflecting shimmering fluro lights, an ex-con hero who lives by his own existential code, a thumping electronic music score, sense of realism, interesting array of character actors who look as though they've done a lot of living, stylised sex scenes. This was 1981 and the budget probably wasn't huge so some of the stylisation looks a little silly - many of the faces seem to have a hang over from the 70s gritty realism days, and there's lots of bouffy hair and bad fashion.

It's got great scenes like James Caan explaining to Tuesday Weld about his past (a diner scene), Caan talking to Willie Nelson (who's terrific, full of pain and age) through a glass window in prison, Robert Prosky (who goes from being cuddly to terrifying in lightning speed) telling Caan that Caan's child is his and he's leasing it out, Caan defying police who want a bribe, Caan kicking arse and taking names, the lawyer negotiating a bribe with a lawyer.

Mann's handling of action sequences isn't as assured as it would become in later years - when Caan goes on his rampage is perfunctory rather than expiring, and some bits (e.g. Jim Belushi being killed) seem over the top. The robbery sequences aren't that exciting - for all the research it mostly looks like welding. And the fashions and hair were really distracting. But it remains effective drama, and Caan gives one of his best performances.