, another recent movie dealing with the same subject, The Good Thief eschews slickness for subtlety and depth. Both movies are enjoyable but for vastly different reasons.
There are several reasons that Bob can be described as a "good" thief. First, his relationship with the young Anna demonstrates that, compared to his cohorts, he does have some class. The relationship also serves to demonstrate Bob's understanding of human nature. Mixing business and sex, especially with a young women who views relationships as a means to an end, is never a good idea.
Secondly, in the tradition of Robin Hood, Bob steals from the rich and gives to himself which makes him likable if not lovable. Thirdly, Bob is an old school con who pulls off his thefts without resorting to violence. If your looking for wild car chases and shootouts at the O.K. Corral your watching the wrong movie.
The Good Thief is not without fault. The vivid canvas that director/screenwriter Jordan creates occasionally slows to the point that the experience is akin to watching paint dry. Notle's character could also use a few diction lessons. Bob's speech patterns, though realistic for an over-the-hill heroin addict, often resemble a weird cross between the speech mannerisms of Dylan and Kieth Richards. Things occasionally get lost in the translation.
The most disconcerting aspect of the production is the result of bad timing that partly destroys the illusion that Jordan attempts to create. When The Good Thief was previewed at the 2002 Toronto film festival Nolte's performance was universally praised. Shortly afterwards Nolte was arrested for Driving under the Influence of a Controlled Substance. The infamous mug shot made Nolte look more strung-out and disheveled than Bob the heroin addict on a bad day. Frankly, its just hard to get that mug shot image out of your head, especially since the personalities of the actor and the character mirror each other so closely. The impact of Nolte's performance has been greatly diminished as a result.
A Good Thief, like a good wine, must be savored to be appreciated.
Running time - 109 minutes
Alternative Reviews:
Roger Ebert's Review
D. Kasman's Review
Rotten tomatoes Reviews
The Good Thief Official Web Site
