For a Mann enthusiast such as myself this is a fascinating film. All his later trademarks are created here in his first feature film, and I think it's fun to spot the parallels to his other films and the evolution within his filmography. For others, it should still be great fun, though. For James Caan is ultra cool, the heist scenes are down-to-earth-straight-forward-cool, sheer professionalism, totally anti-Ocean's-style, and there's a fascinatingly evil antagonist. Also, what a great ending.

Everything in this film, from the acting to the editing to the score to the writing and so forth, is okay. But the culminate result is soooo god-damn booooorrrrrrrring.

Right from the start, as the Tangerine Dream soundtrack serenades the heavy rain falling across a dark, abandoned Los Angeles alley, I know I'm home. As neon lights gorgeously reflect upon anything they can from puddles to car hoods, Caan enacts his contrasting brutality towards anyone and everything. The carnage is always raw and entrancing, and despite his hardened, abrasive way of existence, one can't help but identify with him as a paragon of free will. A classic effort in neo noir.

Mann has it, even from the beginning. His ultra-cool atmosphere, paired with a badass soundtrack from Tangerine Dream makes Thief a prelude to the masterpieces to come. Caan is electric as he turns in one of his best performances. If the Ocean films were halfway realistic you'd have something similar to Thief.

Michael Mann's beautiful, oneiric direction and synth-heavy score elevate this above the level of a cookie-cutter crime/mob flick. Neither the plot nor dialog contain anything spectacular, but Mann just excels at city photography. The beach scene also shows the beginnings of his music video style that would make Miami Vice such a huge hit. Although Caan and Weld can't seem to sell the film's emotional content, Mann still keeps the viewer in suspense all the way through.

Ok so it is super eighties, and the score will rub people who weren't really a part of the decade the wrong way. This is still an excellent thriller. Caan is great and Mann does some of his best work.

i really like how this manages to be a heist movie and also sortof an 'american dream' movie. not the most world-shattering theme i guess, but it's done in a really probing way here. and james caan's fucking unreal. plus the cinematography, editing, and score are amazing. great flick.

Pretty awesome, especially if you go for 80's aesthetic the way I do. Things were so much better when I wasn't alive. We don't get Tangerine Dream soundtracks, James Caan and slow-motion murders/explosions the way 1981 did.

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A solid neo-noir with Mann's stylistic flair already in full-force, from the use of shadow and light (and neon, for that matter) and the killer Tangerine Dream soundtrack. The love story felt more perfunctory compared to the criminal lifestyle side of things, but it gets the job done. This really needs a far better quality release, the DVD is awful; I'm sure it would shine even more with a proper restoration.

Excellent 80s character study/crime film.

james caan is really amazing in the role of a man that constantly struggles to be something that he's not. mann at his finest.

Holy guacamole Mr Mann

Electric, original character study disguised as a thriller. James Caan is absolutely great

Quite good.

The book is better, but it's still Michael Mann's best movie. Excellent Tangerine Dream soundtrack.

This is so much more than just a thriller. Great emotional highs and lows, backed up by perfect music from Tangerine Dream. Fascinating tradecraft with an oddly likable main character whose passion we can totally get, even if we don't agree with him. And some killer monologues to boot!

Mann's best film and Caan's too. Everything you need to know about PEOPLE is in this film.

Heat gets the most attention, but I feel like Thief is Michael Mann's masterpiece. James Caan is brilliant in this tale of a safecracker trying to go straight after one more job. Excellent soundtrack by Tangerine Dream, and Jim Belushi turns in a solid supporting role (as he did in Oliver Stone's Salvador).

Thief is--for better and for worse--very much a thesis to Heat. Like Heat, Thief is a crime drama focusing on the character points that drive men into extra-legal lifestyles, however the focus on one man leaves those character scenes much harder hitting. Memorable and intense scenes early on paired with an unstoppable climax make Thief a note worthy film and a strong benchmark in the career of an outstanding director.

I just couldn't get past the horrible score. Not only was the music terrible but it was so overbearing. It just screamed 'hey look, you are watching an 80s movie!' Most of these points are because of James Caan and his badassness and much love to Belushi's hair, looks like Javier Bardem took note of your hair for No Country. Not terrible, just unremarkable.

Early Michael Mann flick gets extra points for the way cool Tangerine Dream score