The Good Thief (2002)
Review by HTQ4
Film:
DVD:

Written by Neil Jordan, Auguste le Breton, and Jean-Pierre Melville
Directed by Neil Jordan
Starring Nick Nolte, Nutsa Kukhianidze, Ouassini Embarek, Marc Lavoine, Tchéky Karyo, Gérard Darmon, Saïd Taghmaoui, and Ralph Fiennes

Features:

• Running audio commentary with director Jordan
  
• Deleted scenes with optional director's commentary
  
• "Making of" Featurette
  

Released by: 20th Century Fox
Rating: R
Region: 1
Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: Rent it

Bob Montagnet (Nolte) is an aging gambler and drug addict who also used to be a very good thief. Just before he hits rock bottom, he is tempted with robbing a casino safe that is full of extremely rare works of art. To make matters much more complicated, a cop by the name of Roger is tailing him almost everywhere he goes. See, Roger (Karyo) has received word that Bob is getting back into his former business, and Bob represents "the one that got away" for Roger.

Roger and Bob have become friendly enemies over the years and would almost rather help Bob out of his current situation than catch him. Anyway, back to the heist Bob is planning with his friends Paulo (Taghmaoui) and Raoul (Darmon): Bob decides that the best way to do it is to have a fake heist going on at the same time as the real heist. So, Bob cleans himself up, and begins to plan two heists at the same time.

Nolte certainly shines in this film, but in a weird way, this is an ensemble piece. Part of what makes Nolte's performance so strong is that he doesn't have any problem letting the story come first. What I mean by that is that he doesn't try to dominate every frame of the film he's in; instead, he creates an character that is equal parts father-figure, lover, reformed dope addict, and all-around good guy. The rest of the cast are very much up to the challenge and follow his lead. Perhaps the best aspect of this movie is that, unlike most heist movies, there's some abiguity as to the ending: you have no idea whether or not these heists are going to go off correctly. So for the first time in a very long time, we get to see a movie where there is a real sense of suspense created. And the twist at the end is very nearly without equal.

The DVD is quaint, but it hits the mark. First of all, it features a commentary track from a director that has a firm enough grasp on his film to be able to talk about it intelligently, while at the same time, throwing in enough "fluff" to keep his audience from getting bored. As with most DVDs, it is obvious why the deleted scenes find themselves on the cutting room floor. The optional commentary provides some insight into the specifics of why they were cut, but as I've stated: that's fairly obvious upon viewing them. The "making of" featurette is only six minutes long and dances very lightly on the surface of what this movie is about. It feels more like a trailer with interviews than it does a featurette--so, in a way, it's par for the course for your average featurette.

This movie should be seen, but I'm not sure that the DVD warrants a purchase. But do pick up at your nearest rental house, for Nolte's sake if nothing else.