‘Thief’ Criterion Collection 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review – Michael Mann Crafts An Effortlessly Cool Heist Film

The contemporary American auteur Michael Mann’s bold artistic sensibility was already fully formed when he burst out of the gate with Thief, his debut feature. James Caan stars, in one of his most riveting performances, as a no-nonsense ex-con professional thief planning to leave the criminal world behind after one last score—but he discovers that escape is not as simple as he’d hoped. Finding hypnotic beauty in neon and rain-slick streets, sparks and steel, Thief effortlessly established the moody stylishness, tactile approach, and drama that would also define such later iconic Mann films as Heat, The Insider, Ali, and The Last of the Mohicans.

For thoughts on Thief, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

The Criterion Collection presents Thief with an exceptional 2160p HDR/Dolby Vision transfer in 1.85:1 sourced from a 4K restoration of the 35mm Original Camera Negative that has been supervised and approved by director Michael Mann. The film was previously released over a decade ago in 2014 on Blu-Ray which is included in this release alongside the new 4K UHD disc. While the older transfer was very pleasing at the time of release and still holds up very well, there were some criticisms about the color timing of the release. After the latest viewing, this new release is our favorite presentation of this classic. 

The new Dolby Vision transfer brings out the brilliant complexity of the cinematography from Donald E. Thorin. There is a dynamic vibrancy within this moody palette that is dialed in to the intended aesthetic. As mentioned, there were some factions who did not like the cooler push of the previous Blu-Ray release. This 4K UHD release strikes the perfect balance of honoring the stylistic intentions of Mann without going full-tilt into a teal blanket. There is also an improvement in the handling of the contrast, exceedingly helpful when dealing with a film that takes place so much in shadows. The film handles the black levels exceptionally well, as it does not succumb to crush or noise. Highlights are put to the test in some of the welding sequences, but you never spot any blooming as whites radiate famously. 

This transfer retains the natural film grain which resolves fabulously, allowing for a sumptuous amount of fine detail to show up. Subtle facets of the production design and costumes reveal more discrete nuances than the previous presentation. We did not notice any grain reduction as you get a fine sheen that resolves delicately without breaking up into swarmy noise. The encode of this disc is in top form without any serious misfires. Any potential moments of print damage such as nicks or scratches have also been eliminated. The Criterion Collection has served up something exceptional. 

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.0 Master Audio track remastered from the 35mm four-track magnetic audio stems which sounds idyllic. The true star of this picture is the score courtesy of Tangerine Dream, and it has never sounded better as it saturates the room with unwavering fidelity. The score is used perfectly to establish the mood of the story. Environmental sounds emerge with a formidable presence alongside everything else. All key information is resolutely represented, and it maintains an amiable balance so that focus is never lost. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear as it avoids being drowned by competing elements. The low end manifests a small bit of texture, but it is far from the drive of any scene. There are no instances of age-related wear and tear as the track holds up well. The Criterion Collection has given this film a top-tier audio experience. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Thief includes a booklet featuring the essay “Where Nothing Means Nothing” by author Nick James which gives rich insight into the film and the work of Michael Mann. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Audio Commentary: Director Michael Mann and actor James Caan provide an archival commentary track in which they guide you through the creation of the film including the music from Tangerine Dream, the location shooting, working with real-life criminals to achieve authenticity, details about the performers, how they accomplished certain shots, and more. 

• Interviews

• • Michael Mann: A 24-minute interview from 2013 in which the filmmaker discusses his inspiration for the story, working with real-life criminals, his collaboration with the performers, the music of the film, the look he wanted to achieve, and more. 

• • James Caan: An 11-minute piece from 2013 with the performer in which he discusses working with Michael Mann, preparing for the role, the dynamics of the real-life crew, tapping into something real for his character, specific choices he made with language, and more. 

• • Tangerine Dream: A 16-minute discussion from 2013 with Johannes Schmoelling of the band Tangerine Dream in which he discusses collaborating with his band on the score for Thief.

• Trailer (1:53)

Final Thoughts

Thief is premium Michael Mann content as he flexes his talent throughout this moody tale that is deceptively complex. James Caan is at his absolute coolest in this outing, often leaving his actions to take the place of flimsy words. The remainder of the ensemble adds the proper bits of personality to the formula. The atmosphere is impeccable thanks to the score and look of the feature. Even this early into his career, this is one of the best films from Michael Mann. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a dazzling A/V presentation and a nice selection of archival special features. If you are a fan of the film, this is the release to get. Highly Recommended

The Criterion Collection edition of Thief is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.