Thief

Right now you can watch Thief in Australia on MGM Amazon Channel, and in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. James Caan anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Put it on tonight on MGM Amazon Channel and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Thief is worth clearing space for. The plotting gives Thief its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specialized in high-profile diamond heists. He plans to use his ill-gotten income to retire from crime and build a nice life for himself complete with a home, wife and kids. To accelerate the process, he signs on with a top gangster for a big score. James Caan and Tuesday Weld lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1981. What makes Thief hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Thief proves them wrong. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. James Caan carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.