Thief: The Best James Caan Movie You Never Saw!

[@spaceodds1985]

I saw it. Have it on my blu ray shelf, and I saw it in 35mm last year. After Godfather, Thief is Caan’s best film.

[@AmeerHamza-VaPr]

Maybe Mann's best as well. Heat was fantastic but it hogs all the limelight. Thief is Mann and Caan's unsung masterpiece for sure.

[@spaceodds1985]

@@AmeerHamza-VaPr second best for me. Heat IMO is near perfection.

[@AmeerHamza-VaPr]

@@spaceodds1985 it pretty much is! Heat is once a generation type film. Spawned many an imitators, none come close.

[@BowWowVideo]

What kind of saw, rip saw, band saw?

[@rxtsec1]

Heat and the first 2 Godfather movies are in my top 3 movies of all time. Thief is definitely James Caan's 4th best film. Misery is 3rd for me

[@trinaq]

Rest in peace, James Caan, you were an absolute legend. Since I didn't see "The Godfather" or "Misery" until years later, I was first introduced to him via "Elf!"

[@transamination]

He's actually really good in Elf, it was great casting.

[@thedbcooperforum]

Always liked everything he was in. one of my all time favorites. we used to quote some of the lines in the movie that stuck out when we first seen the movie..

[@asifkhan4822]

Thief is a huge underrated classic and I have it on the now OOP Criterion edition. This movie which was Mann's directorial debut essentially defined a lot of Mann later work from TV show Miami Vice to Movies Heat & Collateral. Caan is great and it has one of the greatest finales filmed with Caan taking out Prosky and his team. 100% a great movie. RIP James Caan.

[@MrCarpen7er]

Underrated is now a very popular word used by idiots who doesn´t know what the hell it means or when to use it to the right things.

[@Kthomasritchie]

One of Michael Mann's best films. Wish Mann would return to making these kind of films.

[@bluelivesmatter719]

You and me both

[@kurtbarlow5408]

Absolutely brilliant movie I cannot recommend it highly enough 👍🏼

[@bradley163]

Michael Mann's often overlooked masterpiece. Crazy to think that this is his first directoral feature, too. Other than The Godfather I and II, this is my favorite Cann role. Rest easy.

[@osmanyousif7849]

I think the movie was what even inspired Drive starring Ryan Gosling...

[@marshallposey7842]

One of my absolute favorites

[@jonahship5900]

As a Tangerine Dream fan (they wrote the soundtrack) I am indeed a fan of this film, too!

[@northprime_unlimited]

They showed the wrong line up in the picture. The members at the time were Edgar Froese, Christopher Franke, Johannes Schmoelling. The ones in the picture probably weren’t even born yet.😂

[@mcarrusa]

BIG TIME, as to the score! My favorite piece was the scene when Frank was driving in downtown Chicago, and over the main track, they let loose these subtle trumpet "ruffles." Sometimes I load up the movie just to watch that scene.

[@sw2191]

I have the soundtrack somewhere. Like the score that plays when they make the big score

[@EmilioDelacosta]

Great Actor, Great Person, RIP you have inspired me I know that.... - A Man Who Writes More than Normal to Create Impact

[@trippymchippy8586]

I kid you not, the very night before he was announced to have died, I googled him to check if he was still alive and was relieved to find he still was... a very spooky experience. RIP Mr Caan, your work lives on x

[@rhetteverette2406]

Tangerine Dream’s score of this flick is in my top 10 favorite musical scores

[@DankePlace]

I think this movie was the 1st to formally introduce me to TGD. Opening sequence, the hiss of the drill combined with F sharp I think. Amazing.

[@ajtaylor8750]

One of my all-time favorite films and James Caan's most underrated performance for sure. It's a small scale heist for that evolves into a much greater story by the end, and has one of the best final acts of the 80s. Love this film.

[@jordel2010]

A personal favorite (big Michael Mann fan here). This is the kind of film that really doesn't get made anymore, quite sadly. Definitely among James Caan's best performances. True legend.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

Still remember seeing this movie as a teenager in a now old fashioned movie theatre in 1981. I was totally blown away by all of it, and went on to see it about 50 times. Never got tired of it. Michael Mann's style is top drawer, and the entire cast gave excellent performances. The score by Tangerine Dream remains one of the best ever made in film. I stayed on with Mann through Miami Vice, Manhunter (highly recommended) and of course the classic "Heat".

[@shainewhite2781]

RIP, Sonny Corleone. We miss you. This was also Michael Mann's first film as a director. He would direct The Keep 1983, Manhunter 1986, Last Of The Mohicans 1992, Heat 1995, The Insider 1999, Ali 2001, Collateral 2004, Miami Vice 2006, Public Enemies 2009, and Blackhat 2015.

[@feck2594]

Watch this at least twice a year , it's one of my favorites. When I heard he had passed this was the first movie of his I put in . I don't know many people that haven't seen it . R.I.P. the LEGENDARY James Caan .

[@robertobuatti7226]

I've known about this movie since I was a kid in the 90's which I rented from the video store, great character piece with top notch direction and performances, plus the score is amazing too, own it on Blu-ray and love rewatching it.

[@aldizzle]

This video was a true eye-opener for me. I will seek this out and likely buy it..."sight unseen". Thanks for continuing to make these videos.

[@Pleaver]

This movie is so bad ass. Loved it.

[@travisbickle2004]

Thief is my favourite James Caan movie, it really it a showcase for his talent and he has so many great lines. It’s also one of Michael Mann’s best film’s and i love the soundtrack too. It’s a must see for any fan of James Caan. I recommend The Gambler too. Rest in peace Mr Caan.

[@PatriciaDryburgh]

Absolutely the best heist movies I've ever seen. I've re-watched it several times and there are so many excellent details and great characters. Don't miss this if you can still find it.

[@tomt55]

Caan had such a huge body of work. I've always been a huge fan of his acting, even his cameo in Santa's Slay was fun. I caught Thief on cable in the 80s and loved it. I saw it again recently and it is so good. I recently watched The Gambler 1974, it was good and Caan really chews up the screen. It's not as good as Thief but it's very good and I am really glad I watched it. RIP...

[@chrisefthymiou8289]

His best ever. True to life with real life gangsters playing their part. Never get tired of watching it

[@evertonbouwer4038]

This is a hardcore film.Its one of my favorites.RIP James Caan.

[@Redsok]

Great choice amazing film, shocking how many film lovers haven't seen this, Caan I feel was underrated despite respect he got so solid & believable in his roles.Have tried to see as many of Caans films, its not loved by critics but Rollerball is a good sci-fi sport film too. Thankyou & RIP JC

[@thunderstruck5484]

Oh yes I saw it in early 80s and tell people about it , my favorite of his movies, thanks for spotlighting this classic

[@MauiMark1]

Remember my dad got me to watch this cause he really liked Caan. I was very impressed.

[@v-trigger6137]

I don't think this movie ever gets enough credit. this and American Gigolo are basically THE movies that started the whole 80s aesthetic.. you can say Michael Mann and Paul Schrader basically developed an aesthetic that defined an whole decade. and then again Mann created Miami Vice, which was one of the quintessential piece of the 80s

[@Ali-zy2qj]

Aww man, I had no idea he passed away. Thanks for opening my eyes to this movie. As the style of "Mean Streets" set the precedence for "Taxi Driver", I'm eager to see where the Michael Mann film style first got its wings.

[@Pleaver]

Jimmy. Thanks for all the films. You always brought it.

[@thorner1975]

I'm so glad you covered this crime film classic. I bought the MGM DVD on a blind buy because of it being a Michael Mann film I'd never seen with James Caan. It's a fantastic film and one of the best in their respective canons.

[@TheRush1966]

one of my favourite actors ever ... rip :(

[@barryladden2984]

I couldn't agree more with many of the comments I'm reading here. I was one of the few that got to see this movie when it first came out in the theaters in 1981. It was one of the first times I sat through the entire credits just so I could listen to the music fell in love with the music and the movie Always been a James Caan fan since the Godfather thief is also one of my all time favorites. "I am the last guy you wanna (bleep) with!" Love it! This is also the moment when I became a huge Michael Mann fan!

[@tobingallawa3322]

I worked in a movie theater when this movie came out, saw it many times, liked it a lot, Caan was great in it, good chemistry with well cast Tuesday Weld

[@danielmankowski922]

Great minds think alike. When I heard about James Caan's passing, I said time to rewatch Thief! RIP James Caan

[@StodaGryph]

Oh, I saw it... and immediately went out and bought the soundtrack. Some of Tangerine Dream's best work.

[@heroesmartialartsacademy734]

Damnit! What a great and incite full review👊🏻

[@whiterabbit1632]

Love "Thief" so insanely underrated movie that set a precedent...

[@DrHackmoff]

Ive seen it before (many times) and its one of my favorite movies of all time

[@KutZoru]

I found this film because of the Tangerine Dream. And oh boy, how good the soundtrack is. As for the film itself - it's gorgeous! People are real here. No fancy high-talks. Just life.

[@jerryschramm4399]

When my wife and I heard of Caan's death, we both felt sad. Which of his films to watch to honor his memory? We both immediately said "Thief". Tough, gritty and very stylish. A terrific movie.

[@GabryyLG]

Man... I just found out he died through your comment. I never heard or read about his death

[@ivonnelynn3261]

I love You FOREVER James Cann 🙏❤️

[@ikeflaherty8910]

The role of a lifetime. The kind of starring role most actors only dream of, I was familiar with James Caan, but after seeing Thief he became one of my top 5 favorite actors. All of Michael Mann's movies "go hard", and all have amazing endings, but Theif probably has the best ending scene of any movie ever.

[@HamanKarn567]

I really enjoy most of Michael Mann's shows and movies. Crime Story wit Dennis Farina was super under rated as well seeing him mentioned in the video. James Caan of course one of the greats and both will be missed.

[@KermitEllis-h2r]

All star cast, great film, watched it hundreds of times!

[@Sinic818]

Thief is a great movie. Thank you James Caan for all the great entertainment. RIP.

[@timberwrightsvs480]

Hi @JoBlo Originals ~ First, I want to thank you for paying tribute to a great film, a great director and a great actor, James Caan. As it is probably my all-time favorite film, scored by one of my all-time favorite Krautrock bands, Tangerine Dream, it's pretty special to see it praised in this manner. There's one thing about the tribute, however, that I want to point out to you. When you give a well-deserved mention to the German electronic music godfathers, Tangerine Dream, you employed a photo of the band that came well after the band that actually put together the score for the film, "Thief." The version of the Tangerine Dream trio that worked on the score for Michael Mann was led by founding member, Edgar Froese, and included Christopher Franke and the great soloist, Johannes Schmoelling. As you accurately pointed out, they became much better known in the 80s because their work was featured in some notable films during that period of time, including 1983's, "Risky Business." Founding member, Edgar Froese, passed away in 2015 and, being one of the most highly-regarded Krautrock composers, he deserves a proper mention when it comes to this particular classic film score. Regardless, I want to thank you again for doing the right thing by paying tribute to this classic film. Please keep up the good work. RIP Jimmy C.

[@zq9m3xh8]

God bless your soul, Jimmy Caan.

[@Mayor_Of_Eureka17]

The Way of the Guns was a pretty legit flick of his too.

[@Warp75]

First saw it nearly 20 years ago it’s a total classic & my favourite Caan film.

[@B51608]

Thanks for educating people about this movie. Too many do not know it.

[@bluray76]

I F’n love Thief. Saw it only 12 years ago but watched it twice after I bought it. Definitely bought the Blu-ray first day. I always recommend this one to people. Got the soundtrack on CD. This was my go to after I heard he passed. Rest In Peace Mr Caan. You were a awesome person.

[@simonwoodthrillerwriter]

Totally agree. This is a cracking movie for so many reasons and you see how this film bled into so many of Mann's films years later. Totally second, The Jericho Mile and Killer Elite. Well worth watching. I feel Thief and The Gambler are the perfect Caan double feature. RIP Jimmy Caan. There was no one like you.

[@ankanghosh5272]

I saw this just some days ago...and its just blew my mind. What a movie. Spine chilling soundtrack , blue theme and violent action scenes❤❤

[@christaran]

I never heard of Thief, so thank you very much for bringing it to my attention! Looks amazing.

[@jamesmorgan3212]

I wholeheartedly agree! This is such a cool movie and his finest performance.

[@t.butcher]

I saw it. Great Mann movie. Caan should have done more Mann films.

[@Mandalore646]

Love this film! Was a fan of Tangerine Dream and that’s how I found it. Great movie!

[@mattymac1399]

I re-watched Thief Friday night. Like a fine wine it gets better with age. Phenomenal movie. The Gambler is another great Jimmy Caan movie worth a shot, what a magnificent actor

[@UrbanNoizeMusic]

I love reading up on movies. And this one definitely had me intrigued by the synopsis. Looking forward to seeing this very soon. Also I was mainly introduce to James Caan in his later years on movies of the 2000s. Always felt he was such a distinguished actor. Looking at his discography only confirms this. RIP James Caan

[@mrfspirig]

Thief is my all time favorite movie. Heat is a close second.

[@jamesdc9595]

The Way of the Gun is another overlooked film with a fantastic performance from Caan

[@peterproductions5015]

I miss him so much already.

[@igg3937]

Finally got round to checking this out last night. The second safe-cracking scene blew my mind (no pun intended!) Caan was intense with some great dialogue and Robert Prosky as the mob boss Leo had a genuine sinister chill about him.

[@GeraldRisch]

One of my favorite movies for quotable lines. I even worked in the building where a part of the movie was shot. When Frank walks into the Plating Company you see a large walk in safe. That was our building. Recognized the back office also. Great movie.

[@khoabui5890]

Yeah, I knew this movie, I’ve been a Michael Mann fan for long now and I’ve always loved Mr Cann’s role in Thief

[@Joshmino]

A true masterpiece, if there ever was one.

[@tomhahnl1927]

A great one we lost, RIP James 😢

[@EmperorNerox]

Glad you mentioned Drive it's definitely similar. Leo's speech is classic! Reminiscent of a real Mafia capo for sure. The diner conversation w frank and his gf is reenacted at acting schools to this day. My dad took me to see this when I was 12 in 1981 and I always liked it.

[@stevelovering9774]

Simply superb.

[@Diggy22]

I'm surprised that you didn't mention Brian's Song, with James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Such and underrated and emotional movie.

[@orlandoruizjr3834]

The film is great. I came across it by accident on an old movie channel. The next day, I got myself a copy on blu ray. Highly recommend this.

[@artistjim114]

I saw this in New York on 42nd St. as a kid! It was AMAZING!

[@spiderpig9777]

Thanks for this video... I just watched it and it is a great movie... You really see the same style as there was in Heat.. Hidden gem!

[@lunchmoneydnb]

A great classic, Caan is the man.

[@mphrdldn]

I saw Thief in the theater in 1981. I had clients in Chicago then and liked seeing the setting as well as James Caan and Tuesday Weld.

[@darttoyou1398]

It is one of my all time favorites. Though its old camera work, James makes the movie. One of my favorite quotes, not from this movie but another unique of his. "Karma's only justice without the satisfaction, and I don't believe in justice" James Caan

[@fezenstein]

Thank you I’ve been praising and trying to get people to see this one forever. Please also review - sorcerer at some point.

[@PropDeskJunkie]

I was as 15..First R rated movie I saw. Still one I enjoy from time to time. Love the sound track.

[@Locadel2003]

You are right, some of the soundtrack of this movie were excellent, like the song of the beach scene

[@dasc0yne]

I've been a fan of Thief since the 1980's. I've watched the VHS countless times with my best friend. I was so happy when it got the Criterion treatment. And, yes, it is James Caan's magnum opus.

[@edvaira6891]

Saw this in the theatres when it came out since my Dad was a big fan!

[@johnfitzpatrick3094]

One of James Caan's best films.

[@davidfausel9029]

One of Mann's best, one of my absolute favorites, and I think the best role James Caan has done. Make me happy to see this movie get any love from anyone else, Michael Mann fan or no. Have to make one minor correction though - Leo has nothing to do with Frank getting Okla count on parole so he doesn't die inside. That's all Frank.

[@354Entertainment]

This was a legend and will be never forget to the real people!

[@jerrypeacock2234]

Thief one of the best movies I have seen 40 years ago James Caan was awesome as far as my favorite movie I got to go with El Dorado you listen to his commentary on the DVD about John Wayne is hilarious

[@obizhot]

One of my all-time favorites. First thought I believe in 1984 I was 13 years old and had to rewatch it to understand Everything. It's Amazing that this was the first film for both Prosky and Belushi!

[@anthonyvincent7123]

Also Dennis Farina’s first movie as he was still a cop in Chicago And I believe William Peterson’s first also What talent in this classic!!!!!

[@obizhot]

@@anthonyvincent7123 And that cues him up to be excellent again in Manhunter. Michael Mann SO important to my development of deep appreciation for film.

[@FrankJohn]

Coincidentally I saw that movie just a few weeks ago. For the first time. I was spooked to see this come up as a recommendation.

[@sanchezsushi007]

James “Jimmy the dream” Caan. May his memory be a blessing.

[@phillbozz853]

Most underrated movie ever

[@mandeephara2467]

Coolest movie ever👌👍 Character & Cinematography.

[@blakelyhall8191]

#1, just like Mr. Caan. RIP Sonny Corleone.

[@David-jm1sq]

Another movie to added to the list of "things to watch".

[@matthewmoran5297]

Rest in peace, Mr. Caan. You, Sonny, and Walter will always be remembered.

[@Fatdecember]

Just watched this movie…..Wow James was phenomenal in this movie. I’m glad I watched it and just bought the criterion blu-ray 😃👍

[@whoknew2273]

Legendary actor RIP James Caan

[@christophermirkovich7290]

This is a GREAT movie!!!!!

[@r4h4al]

My favourite film.

[@GeeFunk84]

This movie shows why Michael Mann is one of the best there is. He virtually invented the 80s before the 80s came around.

[@BishopWalters12]

LOL, very good point, a lot of other directors in the early 80's were still releasing movies that felt very 70's but Mann even with this movie in 1981 was bringing something new and fresh to filmmaking.

[@Locadel2003]

9:02 I think you need to do more of this. I always love when you do recommendation of others movies