The legendary career ofJames Caanhas been full of surprise twists and turns.
He made grown men cry with his heartbreaking performance as Brian Piccolo inBrians Song.
The film features the earliest traits of Manns cinematic flair for dim-lit scenes and early MTV-style visuals.
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But it is Caans mesmerizing performance that translates to something much bigger than the simplistic title.
What Is Michael Mann’s ‘Thief’ About?
As a career jewel thief in Chicago,Caans role as Frank lives a very compartmentalized lifestyle.
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Hes more in line with Caans Axel Freed fromThe Gambler, but with far more self-control.
(Thiefis looselybased on the book,The Home Invaders: Confessions of a Cat Burglar.)
Much of Franks life structure stems from his troubled upbringing without it.
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For all his dreams of family and freedom, the life of an illegal safecracker has no good outcome.
Thiefs final act is not the typical hero fighting to save what he loves.
The vision he seeks for himself will never be attainable through his lifestyle choices.
So he ends his marriage, destroys everything he owns with explosives, and takes Leo down for good.
It was Caans finest moment to play a character with a heart inside a cold exterior.
