- Rating:
- 80%
- Format:
- DVD
- Year:
- 1981
- Predominant Genre:
- Crime
- Plot:
- Criminal tries to go straight but crime is the only thing he knows how to do well.
- Theme:
- Personal change
- Similar Titles:
- Unknown
- Best Performances:
- James CAAN
Characterful crime story where no-one seems able to obey the law - so long as only the insurers of precious stones get hurt. A story of a man trying to regain the years he lost in prison by stealing diamonds and being one step ahead of the cops. The police here accept there is little they can do about crime so merely levy an unauthorized tax on the wealth the thieves steal.
As usual, there is no honor among thieves, especially as the crook here is determined to go it alone without having to pay-off those who wish to emotionally blackmail him with a protection racket based on his labor. A careful depiction of a culture of mediocrity in which the talented are supposed to work to pay for the welfare of the less able that is as true about the world of legal endeavor as it is about criminals.
The usual Michael MANN stylistic indulgences do not overwhelm the story but rather serve it. James CAAN is very believable as a professional jewel thief and is made for the role. However, his wife is under-written and his relationship with her, which should form the crux of the movie, fails to fully ignite. What does explode into our consciousness is the idea that to live fully one has to live as though nothing matters, so that one possesses no hostages to fortune. In this way, one can be truly beholden to no-one - but at a high price (at least to one's social life).
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