'Thief' please!!!

[KnighsTalker]

Michael Mann, the director of such films as 'Manhunter', 'Heat', and 'Collateral', has a very definitive style that he injects into his films. With his feature film directorial debut, 'Thief' (1981) starring James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson, James Belushi, and Robert Prosky, he establishes his cinematic vision from the start. The extremely strong performances by the actors, especially James Caan's, grabs your attention all the way through to the end. Also, Michael Mann's hallmark visual style is accentuated by the musical score of Tangerine Dream. 'Thief' is a must have for the definitive Michael Mann film collection. I believe it would be an ideal candidate for the "Blu-ray" treatment.

[DavePS3]

I agree. Love this film.

[NYGiants Fan]

This is easily at the top of my list of favorite films. Everything about it is absolutely perfect. Acting (Caan has never been better, and Prosky is the epitome of evil), cinematography, killer Tangerine Dream ST (fantastic as a stand alone) and absolutely the MOST quotable movie ever. Its the one movie that I can watch any time, anywhere. It needs a blu release, and a good one...not some rushed hack job.

[klauswhereareyou]

My dream for this one would be a Criterion Collection release that consists of the original cut of the film, the director's cut, and Michael Mann's first film, the made for tv movie The Jericho Mile. The current DVD (put out in 1998) is a travesty, nothing more than a laserdisc dumped on a DVD like the origianal release of Scarface and 1941.

[BluOrbit]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

My dream for this one would be a Criterion Collection release that consists of the original cut of the film, the director's cut, and Michael Mann's first film, the made for tv movie The Jericho Mile. The current DVD (put out in 1998) is a travesty, nothing more than a laserdisc dumped on a DVD like the origianal release of Scarface and 1941.

I would certainly love a Criterion release of Thief, with both cuts, even though I much prefer the Theatrical Cut. The Director's cut includes an inserted scene towards the beginning of the movie that clearly does not belong there, makes no sense and contributes absolutely nothing to the narrative. In addition, the other minor changes made do nothing to improve the film and, in most cases, are inferior to the original versions.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by BluOrbit

I would certainly love a Criterion release of Thief, with both cuts, even though I much prefer the Theatrical Cut. The Director's cut includes an inserted scene towards the beginning of the movie that clearly does not belong there, makes no sense and contributes absolutely nothing to the narrative. In addition, the other minor changes made do nothing to improve the film and, in most cases, are inferior to the original versions.

I agree with prefering the theatrical cut, but if they could get both cuts on there that would be better than just the director's cut. My biggest beef with the director's cut is that Mann changed the Peckinpah-esque slow motion shots in the finale to sped-up laughable Charlie Chaplin stuff. I don't know though, Mann loves his "director's" cuts, so it would be a first if a disc of his had multiple cuts on it.

I really hope also though that someday The Jericho Mile can make it to some legit physical format. I think if someone like Criterion could get it added on as an extra (like they did on the Blow Out disc with De Palma's earlier film Murder a la Mod, and with Kubrick's The Killing having Killer's Kiss on it). The Jericho Mile is a great TV movie from the 70's, back when great TV movies were getting made by the networks (like Spielberg's Duel and Hooper's Salems' Lot).

[slasherdisc]

WAY overdue! The movie never even received a proper treatment on DVD so here's hoping it gets a nice release on Blu-ray in the near future!

[retablo]

Originally Posted by knighstalker

Michael Mann, the director of such films as 'Manhunter', 'Heat', and 'Collateral', has a very definitive style that he injects into his films. With his directorial debut, 'Thief' (1981) starring James Caan, Tuesday Weld, Willie Nelson, James Belushi, and Robert Prosky, he establishes his cinematic vision from the start.

Not his directorial debut. The Jericho Mile was released in 1979.

[KnighsTalker]

Originally Posted by retablo

Not his directorial debut. The Jericho Mile was released in 1979.

I stand corrected. I omitted "feature film" directorial debut.

[Akijama]

Check this link out:

Ten MGM Films Likely To Find A Home In The Criterion Collection

Cul De Sac
Killer's Kiss
Sunday Bloody Sunday

7 to go.

[klauswhereareyou]

Well some of those on the list already are out or coming soon from Criterion, so hopefully Thief will come out some time in the next year.

[JUDGEGERRY]

what can be done to persuade the powers that be to release michael mann's thief on blu ray? it's absence insults intelligent movie mavens.

[scrapser]

"Thief" was the movie that finally connected me with Tangerine Dream. Little did I know I had already heard their music in "Sorcerer" a few years earlier. Thief needs to come to Blu-ray as does, "The Keep". There are so many movies out on Blu-ray that are just garbage. I wish there was some source that could explain the rational behind what movies get put out over others.

Another great movie with James Caan I'm hoping for is "Rollerball". Sorcerer will be out next year...can't wait. The scene with the truck on the bridge is white knuckles to the max.