Thief

Synopsis: Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specializing in high-profile diamond jobs. After having spent many years in prison, he has a very concrete picture of what he wants out of life--including a nice home, a wife, and kids. As soon as he is able to assemble the pieces of this collage, by means of his chosen profession, he intends to retire and become a model citizen. In an effort to accelerate this process, he signs on to take down a huge score for a big-time gangster. Unfortunately, Frank's obsession for his version of the American Dream allows him to overlook his natural wariness and mistrust, when making the deal for his final job. He is thus ensnared and robbed of his freedom, his independence, and, ultimately, his dream.
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Director(s): Michael Mann
Production: MGM Home Entertainment
  2 wins & 6 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.4
Metacritic:
78
Rotten Tomatoes:
96%
R
Year:
1981
122 min
928 Views


It's a hot car from

Charleston. They're running a name check now.

- Calling Matthews...

- It's stolen or missing.

Wanted for robbery and escape...

Ford, uh, four-door.

Can you make it to Melrose and...

It's the north-side zone. It's...

1,300 feet a second?

See if 32 has got him.

Are you clear?

We have

a purse snatch that's just occurred...

You're clear here.

Yeah. Come on.

- Mornin'.

- Yeah, mornin'.

What to it, Captain?

Cold.

Mackerel run when it's cold.

You want a danish?

Yeah.

Thanks.

Look at that, huh?

Hmm.

That's magic.

That's what that is, man.

That's the Sky Chief.

Ain't that Sky Chief somethin'?

Huh?

Yeah.

You bet.

Yo, Bruce.

Want to finish cleanin' up that LTD?

Move it up to the front line.

Get rid of this green Merc.

Hey, Bruce.

Park the Mark IV

under the lights.

Hey, John!

Spot this Cougar

on the corner for me, will ya?

Hey, sugar, those transfer titles

come in from the Vehicle Bureau?

Nope. Ralph got tied up

on the Chrysler with the cracked block.

- Get Barry for me, will you?

- He also had to drop some parts...

and you wanted him to make

the Laundromat collection?

- Yeah.

- Barry? Hold on.

- You got him?

- Yeah, 232.

Hey. Listen, I don't know how long

I'm gonna be with the man...

so do me a favor and swing by

the Vehicle Bureau...

and pick up some transfer titles

in my name, all right?

Bye. Bye.

Put your hand out.

Morning, Frank. Didn't see you come in.

Would you like breakfast?

No, just some coffee, thanks.

Thank you.

All right!

What do you make it?

It's, uh, 59...

D flawless to VSI 1.

You got a one and a half

to three-carat spread.

550,000 wholesale.

I'll take 185,000.

- I'll take it myself.

- Fine.

Have someone swing around tomorrow morning.

Look, these people want to meet you.

What?

They're stand-up guys.

- I want to meet people, I'll go to a f***in' country club.

- Okay, okay.

You want me to put some

of your end out on the street?

Barry will collect it.

You down the bread to him

at 3:
00 this afternoon.

You'll double your money

in three months.

My money goes in the bank.

You put your money

on the street.

Hey, give me the check.

Forget it.

Listen,

we having dinner tonight?

Yeah.

That's a new sweater.

It's nice.

Oh. Yeah, thanks.

- Then I'll pick you up at 8:00.

- Bye.

Tell him to, uh, see me...

the minute he gets, uh,

back here...

and, uh...

Sure.

...sh*t under a hot rock, man.

Hey, Frank, Frank, Frank.

What's doin', boss man?

Hey, give me my wrench back!

Here's your tool.

Not the mama one you gave me.

Can't work without a tool,

goddamn it.

I try my best.

I see you didn't do it.

"Nothing new ever happens

around here...

Making your life happen...

like you said...

collecting your debt

back from society...

I gotta see ya.

Your pal, Okla."

"Gotta see ya."

In a moment,

Arizona senator denies as false and libelous...

rumors that he has connections

with the underworld.

News time, 1:
02.

- Gimme a total, will ya?

- All right.

- Oh, Barry's been callin' you.

- When?

I don't know.

Couple of times last half hour.

- What?

- Three times.

532-9234.

- Gimme the phone, will ya?

- Yeah.

Hello?

- Where are you?

- The hell you been?

- You make the pickup?

- I'm in a goddamn phone booth.

Trying to find a phone that works in

this city. I have not made the pickup.

We got a problem.

Can you talk?

- No. You see our man?

- No, 'cause there was no man.

Gags took a walk

through his 12th-story window.

He's splattered

all over the sidewalk.

What do you want to do?

Did he down our merch?

Is he gone? Did he carry

the cash on him? What?

I'm talking

to somebody's somebody.

I will know in 25 minutes.

Get the work car and meet me

at Armitage and Lincoln.

Jimmy, here, here.

On the side,

Gags was laying down juice loans...

on the street

for this Attaglia, right?

He was turning in

the vig money...

but he was putting

in his pocket the principal.

They found out

he was screwing 'em over.

They went crazy.

Ba-boom.

- Gags down our merch?

- Yeah. At the R.D. Lounge.

Pauli saw it go down.

It was your money in Gags' pocket

when he went out the window.

You keep this runnin'.

Can I help you?

Yes, please.

I'd like to see a Mr...

- I want a cup too.

- Sure. Where's your cup?

Back by the machine.

I'm sorry. What were you saying?

Yes. Mr. Attaglia.

I'd like to see him.

You've made a delivery of some plating,

and I had problems with it.

Just a minute.

There's someone to see you

about some plating.

Okay.

- Back there.

- Thank you.

I'm Mr. Attaglia.

You didn't get a delivery

or somethin'? Sit down.

Zinc? What?

My name is Frank...

and that was bullshit.

- What is this?

- "This" is Joe Gags.

185,000 of my money.

We have this problem.

What problem?

What are you talkin' about?

He was moving

my merchandise...

so the money in his pocket when

he went out the window is my money.

This is a plating company.

What are you telling me this sh*t?

"Sh*t"? I want my money.

Hey, I don't know

what you're talkin' about...

Mr. Frank La La... whatever.

- Some guy die?

- Yes.

The estate goes to probate. Take it to

probate court. What do you bug me with this?

I come here to discuss

a piece of business with you.

And what are you gonna do?

You gonna tell me fairy tales?

Who the f*** are you, slick?

Somebody knows you?

What are you, crazy?

I don't know you.

I don't know

some clown named Gags.

Get outta here. Carl!

Go ahead,

get the f*** outta here.

- Hold it.

- All right, all right.

Jesus Christ.

All right, do what he says.

- Do what he says.

- Lay down.

Go ahead.

Put your hands on your head.

Spread your legs. Now.

Hey, you, you goof!

Look at the wall.

I am the last guy

in the world...

that you want to f*** with.

You found

my money on Gags.

Let us pretend you don't know

whose money it is.

That's right.

I don't know who you are.

Three hours.

I will call to set a meet.

You will pay me my money...

$185,000.

Sit down.

Thanks for comin' on down

so soon.

I was comin' anyway.

- How's it goin'?

- Me?

I am doin' terrific.

Every day is a surprise.

It is real f***in' weird

out there.

It is nothing

like we figured out.

So what's to it, my man?

Same old sh*t. Morris finally busted

Red's pruno operation.

- And a lot of knifings going on.

- Yeah. Dope?

Yeah, that and sex.

You wouldn't believe the quality

of people they're puttin' in here.

Ten or 15 years ago, they'd have

dumped 'em in a funny farm somewhere.

Rapists, child molesters.

They put that sh*t in here

with the mainstream population.

Used to be, somebody like that,

if they lasted five days, it'd be a record.

Perverse.

How's the wife?

The wife?

There's nothing with the wife.

I pulled the plug.

What happened?

Uh, I, uh...

She does not know

I'm putting down scores...

and the rocket scientist that she is, she figures out...

That I am having affairs

with fancy ladies.

Anyway, it gets all screwy

and twisted.

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Michael Mann

Michael Kenneth Mann (born February 5, 1943) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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