Thief (1981) | *First Time Watching* | Movie Reaction | Asia and BJ

[@indridcold3762]

You two react to a lot of hidden gems that most reactors don't. Thank you.

[@Grnademaster]

I agree. More Spike Lee movies need to be done.

[@indridcold3762]

@@Grnademaster Would love to see Clockers if they haven't done it yet.

[@Grnademaster]

@@indridcold3762 Ha! I'd bet my life savings that NO REACTION CHANNEL has done that movie yet. My favorite Spike Lee was 25th Hour. Next is prolly a toss-up between Do the Right Thing and Inside Man. Clockers was good though, I liked it.

[@TheStrucel]

Yeah I've been waiting for people to do this one

[@indridcold3762]

@@TheStrucel I'd also love to see someone do Sorcerer from 1977. That's a damn good one too.

[@howardweinstein1324]

James Cann said this was his favorite role of all his movies. I couldn't agree more. This was a Great movie.

[@ExecuMutant]

The "Burn Bar" Caan used to cut a door through steel is known as a Thermal Lance. Oxygen is pumped through a hollow alloy tube and ignited with an oxyacetylene torch. As the bar is consumed it has to constantly be cooled. It burns hot enough to melt through solid steel.

[@mvjonsson]

Tangerine Dream's Electronic score fitted the movie perfectly.

[@dilsquid]

💯💯💯

[@santiagohardy2728]

So nice to see someone acknowledge Tangerine Dream's original score. Dr. Destructo, such a standout for me.

[@mgman6000]

My favorite group I've been to 5 of their concerts

[@andrewforbes1433]

The diner scene is one of the great moments of humanity in cinema. Two broken outsiders looking for connection.

[@Thewingkongexchange]

Hugely underrated film. Glad you guys have got round to covering it!

[@angelkiller]

Michael Mann! This, Heat, Manhunter, The Last of the Mohicans…on and on with his unique directing and editing of badass iconic, almost mythic, characters.

[@santiagohardy2728]

You picked such a lost gem of a crime film. Mann does such a solid execution of a character study with his direction. Excellent casting, performances, editing, and the original film score by Tangerine Dream. So nice to see you react to Theif. I wish more youtube reaction channels would follow your lead here. You really made my Monday. Thank you for this!🙏

[@stevestrasser7892]

The thing I really love about this movie is all the detail work. Mann actually got cops and ex-cons to help with every detail. All the equipment, even the thermal lance used to cut into the safe was real gear. BTW, the guys portraying his group were real cops advising on the movie, and the guys portraying cops were the ex-cons advising on the movie. And this soundtrack........mmmmm.

[@DustinUriah]

Damn, watching Thief!?!? Did not expect this. A Michael Mann classic

[@waltstilwell4933]

Dennis Farina was Chicago detective and worked as an advisor for this movie, he’s in the final gun battle at the end.

[@carlbaker7242]

A BIG quick thumbs-up!!! To the request made and you guys playing it. A great movie and soundtrack. One of my favorite actors James Cann . This was filmed in Chicago. Getting off late one night i ran across the area they was shooting. I yelled a James Cann and told him he was my favorite and I loved him in lady in a cage. He gave me an autograph. BJ that car was and 80 Cadillac Eldorado. It inspired for me buying . one. Check out Brian's song with him and Billy Dee Williams. Asia we know you couldn't take a pack of lifesavers from 7/11.

[@clarencewalker3925]

The guy who played the crooked cop is John Santucci. He was a former safecracker and was the technical advisor on this film. Also one of the henchmen was played by Dennis Farina, formerly of the Chicago PD and the cop who busted Santucci.

[@rezalustig6773]

Farina’s been in a bunch of great movies.

[@shainewhite2781]

This is Michael Mann's directorial debut. He would later direct The Keep in 1983, Manhunter in 1986, the NBC TV movie LA Takedown, Last Of The Mohicans in 1992, HEAT 1995, which was a remake of LA Takedown, The Insider 1999, Ali in 2001, Collateral in 2004, Miami Vice: The Movie in 2006, Public Enemies in 2009, Blackhat in 2015, and the upcoming Ferrari biopic in 2023.

[@reesebn38]

It was really The Jericho Mile(1979) that made him a name. Considered one of the best TV movies ever made.

[@luvlgs1]

incredible career

[@keithr-xj7zx]

He played " Sonny" in the Godfather. Check out the movie, Comes a Horseman starring him. Great movie I'm sure you guys will enjoy. Love you guys. ✌️

[@johnrichardson5729]

Yessss yessss!!! You guys are officially the BEST mpvie reaction channel now. You react to movies that other channels won't go near. Thief is one of my favorite movies. I'm really stoked over this reaction. You guys are the best.

[@reesebn38]

2 of my favorite James Cann movies "Rollerball"(1975) and "Alien Nation"(1988). 2 years before "Thief" in 1979 Michael Mann directed his first movie. A TV movie called "The Jericho Mile". Considered one of the best tv movies of all time! Peter Strauss gives a fantastic performance! Both Mann and Strauss Won Emmys. It's for free on KZbin.

[@Grnademaster]

Rollerball is a good one. I bought the Twilight Time edition.

[@reesebn38]

I saw it in the theatre when I was a kid.@@Grnademaster

[@Divamarja_CA]

Love Peter Strauss since Rich Man, Poor Man (Nolte, too).

[@reesebn38]

OMG that is so weird I was just thinging about Rich Man Poor Man. I watched and loved that Mini-series! Part 1 & 2.Yes huge fan of both actors! After Rich Man Poor Man I watched everything those actors did.@@Divamarja_CA

[@TonyV5913]

James Caan one of his Greatest Rolls was the Godfather as Sonny...

[@youteo3596]

Just throwing out there, the way of the gun with James caan, benicio del Toro and Ryan Philippe is pretty good too and hardly ever reacted to.

[@patrickgodsil1115]

I freaking love that synth that kicks in after they get the diamonds from that vault. The music in this is incredible.

[@clarencewalker3925]

Music provided by Tangerine Dream, who performed for "Legend", "Sorcerer", and the orginal "Firestarter".

[@bebop_557]

Fun fact: James Caan, to prepare for this movie, went to Gunsite and trained with Jeff Cooper back in the day. That's why his gun manipulations look so smooth in this movie. I always recommend Way Of The Gun as a follow up movie to Thief, where James Caan plays a bagman who handles the dirty laundry of a wealthy criminal. Chris MacQuarry's brother was a Navy SEAL and he got him to help choreograph the gunfights and train all the actors.

[@ChristopherBiles]

Quick run down of this film to provide insight if needed. Also, I first saw this film, with my Pop, when I was nine. I did not understand many aspects of the film, at that time, but now at 51, I feel like I understand the details of the film and characters better than when I was a little tyke. This film is a favorite of mine, so, I feel compelled to leave a comment even though I so rarley do so on any platform. 1. Frank has been through hell. The picture he made is to represent his life, from the past and also what he hopes the future holds. 2. Frank is smart for an uneducated man. He knows that being a thief is his best assest and therfore he does it well. 3. Frank knows that if one is going to operate in the "criminal" environment, one can have no qualms on what needs to be done; however, he appears to me to have a sense of honor in that there are some things he either will not do or that he perceives to cross a line that no one should cross. 4. Frank's love of Okla is I'm sure as a father figure type of relationship or a friend. Friend is a word that is used rather loosely today, in my humble opinion. So, Okla could just be a friend in how Frank perceives the relationship. 5. Leo crossed the line. Intially Leo states that "everyone is an adult", but Leo just wants what Frank supplies. He wants a slave. 6. Frank destroys his marriage, home, businesses, etc. because in his mind his future is not attainable. So, he takes the approach of ridding himself of all connections. Quite sad but what can one expect when oeprating in nefarious circles. 7. Taking out Leo was just revenge (and severing all ties...) and of course who could blame him. :) Tidbits concerning particular actions done in the film: i. Frank discards the rings and other items in the first heist because those could be traced/tracked. Just uncut diamonds or cash is all he looks to steal. ii. The judge and the lawyer, concerning Okla being released from prison, are using their fingers to negotiate a price, to be paid to the judge, for him to grant a writ of habeas corpus for Okla to be freed. Final part from me in this long post. This film has so many interesting aspects. From one, that some people were lucky enough to see the "real" original version that showed: A. Blue chalk lines on the intial safe robbery - that way one would know exactly where to drill on the safe. B. To see that the team used automatic grappling hooks to scale the building in the "big" robbery on the safe where they cut open the box. As I said, I was nine when I first saw the film. I don't recall whether I saw those two above scenes. A long time ago and I know that they pulled the film and made some adjustments. Anyway, I consider Theif one of my favorite films. Maybe the only one where I cheer on a criminal. ;) Good day to all. Chris

[@michaelmaloskyjr]

Damn, y'all going down the Michael Mann gauntlet? I remember when you listened to Wang Chung's "To Live and Die in LA" and mentioned the movie scenes running during the music video. Well just so ya know -- "To Live and Die in LA" is absolutely the next logical Michael Mann flick in this crime series. Tough, hard-nosed characters living and dying where heroes don't exist. Just direct talking, violent men. Btw Willie Nelson's character said he has "angina" -- a cardiac condition where you have chest pain from not pumping enough oxygen rich blood. Can be deadly untreated.

[@Seenalot]

Michael Mann didn't direct To Live and Die in LA

[@michaelmaloskyjr]

@Seenalot haha ty, good catch; I have too many active comment threads in my head at once. Now that I am thinking of the Friedkin association, I'm guessing "To Live and Die" had quite an effect on Michael Mann's decade later "Heat."

[@dangelo1369]

James Belushi was his partner and the late Dennis Farina was the one with the shotgun; he was a Chicago cop at the time.

[@Grnademaster]

Caan is probably best known for "Brian's Song" (1971)

[@vincentbergman4451]

All the safe cracking in this movie was legit Real safes, real tools, real thermal lance Supporting cast is full of actual police, and criminals Michael Mann goes all out on realism, why most of his movies are amazing

[@tomfrankiewicz4030]

Thief is one of my all time favorite movies. I just saw it again the other day

[@Land-Shark]

James Caan also starred in "The Godfather" as Sonny Corleone.

[@antoinettelopes]

Oh wow. I've been meaning to rewatch this since he died. I saw it years ago but I really need to see it again before I watch your reaction. I'm pretty sure it's in my tubi watchlist with probably 200 other movies. 🤭 I'll have to get to it. I love James Caan. He had such a cool personality. I miss his "end of tweet"s. 🙏🏼

[@johnclawed]

Hey A&B, if you want off-the-beaten-path crime movies then "The French Connection" and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" are still waiting for some attention.

[@diviasee1]

Been watching movies for over year and ya'll never disappoint. Cant believe when i seen ya'll were doing this movie. Michael Mann is an iconic director in my opinion. Ni love his movie The Keep and Tangerine Dreams score in that as well as this. Two movies you should check out aing these lines being you already done Heat. React to Rush (1991) with Jason Patrick and Jennifer Jason Leigh and Running Scared with Paul Walker.

[@goathair33]

I rented “Heat” when it first came out at this Mom & Pop video store & the older Movie buff guy recommended this one to me. Cool movie! You should check out “To Live & Die in LA”.

[@joevaldez6457]

11:51 This is one of the best scenes in any movie I've seen. I think the writing and acting runs rings around the DeNiro-Pacino diner scene in _Heat_ . What's great is that instead of being like Heisenberg, Frank comes right out and tells Jessie what he is and what he wants, take it or leave it. He really opens himself and we can't help but want him to have something he cares about. But the minute he cares about something, he becomes vulnerable.

[@ts1ezrdr]

I found out about this movie back in 1986 and today, it stands as my 3rd favorite Michael Mann film with Manhunter (1986) and Heat (1995) being 1st and 2nd respectively. For some more of Jim Belushi, you might want to check out Red Heat (1988), K-9 (1989), Mr Destiny (1990), Taking Care of Business (1990), and Joe Somebody (2001).

[@jessediaz1293]

I’m surprised y’all did a reaction to this! Thief is one of my favorite movies tho. James Caan said this was his favorite role, better than Sonny Corleone.

[@vcancer]

This is one of my favorite James Cann movies. I have this one on a repeat watch every year. There's another James Cann film that is underrated called Rollerball from 1975. Jim Belushi has a great film he was in called The Principal from 1987 you need to add it to your watch list. And there's one other film I need you two to check out called Sharky's Machine. It also came out the same year as Thief and also has one of my favorite actors in it, but not saying who he is. That is for you to find out when you watch Sharky's Machine. My best friend and I went to our local theater at the age of 14 to check it out. It was an R-rated movie but at that time theaters didn't care much. We had so much fun with it, It was a great film and is still one of my favorites today

[@thecelticblog]

What an excellent choice :) Whoever recommended this to you knows his or her films, and I think it's amazing that you guys gave it a go. It's an under-rated gem. A proper classic and one that so few people recognise as one.

[@luvlgs1]

you also saw James Caan in The Godfather. you should check out The Gambler, another great James Caan movie. keep on rockin

[@jake1976]

Loved The Gambler. Surprised it wasn't more popular.

[@murrayroodbaard207]

James Caan was Michael Corleone's big brother in "The Godfather". He was the guy that got shot by a hail of bullets at the toll booth after he went after the man who beat up his sister.

[@snuggie007]

Nice choice 👍🏼 would love to see you guys react to some Pacino. Would highly recommend “Dog day afternoon” terribly underrated but one of his best

[@Divamarja_CA]

If you want underrated Pacino, then go with Scarecrow, Author, Author or And Justice For All. DDA is highly thought of, well known, celebrated, etc.

[@Ulander777]

I wish Michael Mann ( the director) would of changed his mind and have frank meet up with Jessie in the end, because everyone needs love, and I believe frank really wanted that dream of a family.

[@tomfrankiewicz4030]

I really like the dialouge in this movie. Someone put a lot of thought into the script

[@OldMan_PJ]

Great movie with a great soundtrack!

[@TylerNorCal]

Great choice guys, this is an underrated classic. James Caan is just so believable in this movie, doesn't even feel like he's acting.

[@bernardsalvatore1929]

THE CAR THAT JAMES CAAN DRIVES IS A CADILLAC EL DORADO AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST VEHICLES TO HAVE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE IN THE 1970S!! I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU GUYS REACTING TO THIS FILM I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN ANY OTHER REACTORS REACTING TO THIS FILM AND IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!! A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE OF OVER 50 YEARS WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY WAS THE ONE WHO TURNED ME ON TO THIS FILM SO THANK YOU FOR THAT NOSTALGIC MEMORY BY REACTING TO THIS!!!❤❤❤

[@susanliltz3875]

Check out James Cann and Billy Dee Williams in a great older movie: BRIANS SONG based on the true story of Gayle Sayers and Brian Piccolo from the Chicago Bears , story of friendship!

[@agitatedmongoose]

You can tell the 2011 movie Drive with Ryan Gosling was heavily influenced by this movie. The way LA looks and is lit in neon colors (this is before Miami Vice's neon colors but same director and creator as Miami Vise). To Drive using Tangerine Dream inspired Elecrronic music as the driving beat behind the movie as well.

[@strush2005]

I remember it being filmed by our home in Chicago . Good movie and excellent choice.

[@byronlabelle7569]

This is among my all time favorite movies. James Caan is an underrated actor who does good roles. The thing that they used to cut through the door on the vault is called a thermal lance or Oxygen lance, it's a steel tube filled with small iron rods that has oxygen pushed through it from a standard O2 bottle. The end of it is ignited by an oxy-fuel torch and then it's applied to whatever you wish to cut like heavy plate steel(ships) or concrete. One of my other favorite movies is "Eraser" with James Caan and Arnold Shwarzenegger.

[@veeyazzie3957]

Underrated Gem 💎 of a movie👌 So glad ya'll got introduced to the cinema 🎥 of the One & Only Michael Mann. One the most influential Directors of our generation. Was fortunate to watch this movie on the big screen back in Nov 2021, hearing that Tangerine Dream soundtrack in the theater was Awesome 👌 🎶 I bought the soundtrack immediately after watching it for the 1st time, back in 2013. "Diamond Diary" is my favorite track, it's the reason why I found out about this hidden gem of a movie. In the screen play, it's written that Frank actually links back up with Jessie later on. Michael Mann wanted to end the movie on a high note since no movie ended like this for a 80s movie. RIP to James Caan, Dennis Farina, Chuck Adamson, & John Santucci 🙏 The late great Dennis Farina & Chuck Adamson, who were both retired Detectives that also worked as technical advisors, had small roles in the movie. Chuck Adamson's Crime Stories would later inspire Michael Mann to Write the screenplay for HEAT(1995) 👌 John Santucci was also a technical advisor as he was the real life Thief who used the Burning bar to get into a safe. He plays Urizi, the dirty cop in the movie This was an unexpected suprise, keep those Awesome Michael Mann movies coming 👍 Happy Belated Birthday Asia 🎂 🥳

[@thomasripley1548]

Not welding ,cuttng, ....through . This great Michael Mann did awesome job...cinematography, music .......

[@bg7606]

I can't believe it. No one's done this one. My father's favorite movie and one I actually saw in the theater

[@rxtsec1]

I got to see a special screening of this movie a couple years ago. Wasn't the first time I watched it but the movie theater experience was amazing

[@terryhughes7349]

I love this movie! Prototype for the movie he made later: "Heat"

[@davidferguson3031]

James Caan's a total badass, when he has the use of his legs lol. Great choice guys... one of my all time favourite crime drama films!

[@darwinawardcommittee]

The Green Mill in Chicago. Where I learned to drink martinis. It’s still there (not blown up). Al Capone’s old hideout

[@mistyharris7463]

I hope more watch this reaction! It's fun seeing a reaction to a new to me movie.

[@drg3712]

Lol, yes Asia, there’s only one Willie Nelson 😊. Mad respect for you both doing this movie! It is a deep cut. An amazing under-appreciated film.

[@ericsierra-franco7802]

Great movie! 👍🔥🔥🔥 James Caan played Sonny in the Godfather too.

[@petergoldsmith4398]

BJ is correct there IS only one and only Willie Nelson ❤

[@mrantdagreat]

Awww yeah! Y’all digging into the archives now 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. This and “Heat” are amongst Michael Mann’s best films!

[@Huero510]

If you like old movies , Check out Midnight Run(1988) with Robert Deniro , you guys will laugh a lot I think ! Thanks for the laughs and good vibes as always Ima huge fan lol BTW I got a long movie list for y’all if y’all wanna check it out 😂 god bless

[@phillyphan1225]

One of my favorite movie…Charles Grodin had me laughing through the whole thing!!

[@crominion6045]

James Caan, Willie Nelson, and a killer score by Tangerine Dream. This movie is a favorite of mine.

[@nuworldremix]

One of the best heist films ever made

[@atggarden5251]

Oh yes, Tangerine Dream!!! One of the best soundtracks ever!

[@CitizenDissendentVI]

And always remember $150.00 slacks and 800.00 suits was legit money in 1981. Relative to today's dollar multiply it by about 2.9. So that's 400 for the slacks and about 2300 a suit. So that 4 million dollar score would be worth almost 12 mil. today. This movie is a masterpiece

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

oh hell yeah with this one! James “the shoulders” Caan at his peak wiseguy? I don’t know who requested it but 👊🏽!! And while ya’ll at it, you can just go ahead and react to all of Michael Mann’s 80s and 90s movies!

[@waltermartinez5372]

Code of Silence (1985) action thriller

[@MB-oc1nw]

I saw this a few months ago for the first time...excellent film

[@GagiPav]

Good Chicago movie. "About Last Nigh" with Rob and Demi.

[@SG-js2qn]

James Caan is also in "Elf," my #1 favorite Christmas movie.

[@johnhinkle8952]

I have severall favorite reaction channels incluuding you guys I;ve been waiting a while for this film to pop up. I think it is one of the best underrated films of all time. Great job

[@tomlichnofsky.7048]

RIP James Caan 😔 Another Michael Mann Masterpeace! 👊✊😆👌👍🍁🍁

[@ramonaalvarez7559]

Caan played the eldest son Sonny in the Godfather. Maybe that's what ur thinking. Willie Nelson was the one Caan visited in prison & told Caan man u gotta get me outta here. Great movie & actors.

[@dalesands1857]

It's Caan (Khan). He's in The Godfather movies too (Sonny).

[@MilkSteak55]

Great reaction! If you liked this, I recommend Manhunter, also directed by Michael Mann. It's the first movie to portray Hannibal Lector

[@frankmiranda9162]

My older brother and I went to see❤ this in the theater with our parents......❤

[@soonersmith4179]

I love the gun handling in this movie, James got training and he used the tactics that were the top stuff at that time. A time capsule of tactics. Next you should watch Zulu with Michael Caine, it shows proper use of volley fire

[@jchihat]

He was also in the Godfather movie

[@Tmiscia]

Belushi was in blues brothers another classic

[@johnhutto8270]

James cann. Was Sonny in the 1972 the Godfather and Jim Belushi was John Belushi brother The Blues Brothers

[@silvas2308]

Great movie indeed, too bad it's out of radars on most react channels. Thank you for finding it.

[@th.burggraf7814]

What a nice surprise.., I haven't seen this movie in decades... 👍🏻

[@Land-Shark]

Child car seats didn't become mandated by law (in the USA) until 1985, 4 years after this movie came out.

[@mgjkoehler]

One of my favorite movies! Hope you enjoy.

[@terrylandess6072]

This feels like a 'left-over' from the early serious seventies. I was riveted by Caan's performance and how the story circled in on itself till we see a master thief at work. Marvel's Antman thanks this film.

[@neville1076]

Hey Asia and BJ, Thank you for this reaction - I love this movie! And going to your comment about being a lookout, I'll recommend the perfect film for you - The Lookout (2007) with joseph Gordon-Levitt.

[@melissaloveless1590]

🍿🥤 I'm watching now. The movie (Summer Rental) is a really cute 80's movie with John Candy, y'all would love it.

[@ryanfeit1420]

This was James Belushi"s debut film.

[@Kaitschi]

R.i.P. James Caan. He is such a Badass in this

[@danflanagan2985]

Bad boys 83 w Sean Penn

[@bg7606]

The first guy that comes out of the bushes after he kills the mob bosses Dennis Farina. That was his first movie role after he retire from the police force. Then he started in Michael Mann's TV series Crime Story. You guys saw him in SNATCH w Brad Pitt as the guy from NYC

[@Uriahjw]

James Caan was in "the Godfather" back in the 70s.

[@daniellesmith7149]

I never seen this movie before, but this was really good.

[@tolkienismaster]

A reaction to Micheal Mann's Thief?! Wow! There are few reaction to this great movie.

[@MikeyD166]

This is my favorite movie of all time

[@CarolinaCharles777]

Wow! Y'all are reacting to some very interesting movies!

[@gustavoalmanza2673]

I gave the video a thumbs up because he pronounced Des Moines right

[@kanjoracer4914]

Glad you two enjoyed this! Please check out ''The Parallax View'' from 1974

[@rxtsec1]

Great Micheal Mann movie. Hope you guys do Heat

[@darkgable85]

My 2nd favorite James Caan movie... RIP