The Good Thief
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Movie Reviews of The Good Thief
Movie Review: Moody Noir, But Lacks Something Powerful to Make Us Care
Summary: 3 Stars
Loosely based on Jean-Pierre Melville's noir classic, "The Good Thief" offers much for the fans of the genre, but little for the fans of the star Nick Nolte's "48hrs". The film is slow-moving, and the stress is given on the characters, not the actions, so don't expect any Walter Hill-like machismo touch here.Neil Jordan's newer version follows basically the same plot of the orginal. It is about Bob, aging gambler living in the French Riviera, and is constantly under the influence of some substance. While he rescues a Russian girl Anne one night, and finds himself utterly broke, he takes another (and the last) chance to do heist, this time a very big one. He collects unique members to do this job, but French cop Roger (Tcheky Karyo) is always watching him, knowing that something is going on.
Jordan gives a twist to the story of the original "Bob le Flambeur," but the French film is also influenced by American noirs like "Asphalt Jungle," and here and there in "The Good Thief" you will find what you saw in these old heist films -- a lady, a thwarted plan, and so on. Neil Jordan follows the rules very carefully, but I am afraid too carefully to really engage us.
But the picture itself is beautifully done, capturing the glowing lights of Monte Carlo casinos or the dangers hidden behind the feebly-lit streets at night. (The photographer is Oscar-winner Chris Menges, "The Mission" "The Killing Field" and others) The moody images are one of the assets of the film, so is the strong acting of Nick Nolte as Bob.
The support is interesting, if not always great. Tcheky Karyo can be as bad and evil as he wants (see "Kiss of the Dragon") but he shows unexpected tenderness here, like in "The Core."
You see a cameo of Ralph Fiennes, but his role is too small to need special mention, and so is Said Taghmaoui, who was so impressive in French film "Hate." Emir Kusturica (himself a director of "Arizona Dream" and "Underground") is not bad as a comic relief, a high tech guy Vladimir playing rock guitar. As Anne Nutsa Kukhianidze, though obviously she needs more training for acting, is very seductive and sexy enough.
So, "The Good Thief" is a good noir, but that is all I can say. I find the film needs stronger driving force for any characters involved -- I don't think I saw much of Bob's character as gambler in the film -- but as noir that's ok. Just good.
Movie Review: Special effects, music, well done, entertaining story, charismatic acting
Summary: 3 Stars
THE GOOD THIEF, starring Nick Nolte and filmed on location in Monte
Carlo, released in 2002, is a movie that is perhaps of special
interest to criminologists, as it covers a number of aspects that
are widely reported in the media, as scourges of society. It also
associates the weaknesses of the film's protagonists to the profit,
glamor, class and prestige of a casino, thus making viewers reflect
on how there's always someone, somewhere, raking it in from another
human's failings - not exactly a brother's keeper, is it?
Here, there's tales of heroin abuse in the character played
tastefully by Nutsa Kukhianidze, whose youth and innocence in this
picture are a true complement to Nolte's older "tortured mind and
soul" presence; in this manner, there's a chemistry between the pair
that is charismatic. Also, the movie has a small part for a role of
a transgendered weight lifter, perhaps to throw a curve ball to the
audience. There's also prominence given to gambling addiction, as
one would expect, from the plot, involving a casino for which Monte
Carlo is well known. There's the traffic of high value paintings, in
this case, Picasso and otherwise, and a mastermind plan from Nolte's
character to take possession of millions.
The filming spot adds value to the story, as the camera shows the
coutryside and also "in loco" filming in the city itself,
underlining its many glamourous and luxurious aspects, as its more
common aspects. The casino sequences, I find were done even better
than in 007's Casino Royale. The action is never slow ...time moves
rapidly over 90 mins, and the suspense is always present. Overall,
the GOOD THIEF's special effects, music, and more is well delivered,
and the story entertaining.
I wouldn't suggest this movie is intended for the patrons of Monte
Carlo, obviousl. I don't know exactly why the "Algerian" aspect is
combined into it, unless, the story writer felt first generation
newcomers from the Magreb deserved being associated with some of
what goes on in the movie, perhaps. A fun movie, and the law
enforcement is always present, throughout, to remind viewers
of the consequences.
Movie Review: Special effects, music, well done, entertaining story, charismatic acting
Summary: 3 Stars
THE GOOD THIEF, starring Nick Nolte and filmed on location in Monte
Carlo, released in 2002, is a movie that is perhaps of special
interest to criminologists, as it covers a number of aspects that
are widely reported in the media, as scourges of society. It also
associates the weaknesses of the film's protagonists to the profit,
glamor, class and prestige of a casino, thus making viewers reflect
on how there's always someone, somewhere, raking it in from another
human's failings - not exactly a brother's keeper, is it?
Here, there's tales of heroin abuse in the character played
tastefully by Nutsa Kukhianidze, whose youth and innocence in this
picture are a true complement to Nolte's older "tortured mind and
soul" presence; in this manner, there's a chemistry between the pair
that is charismatic. Also, the movie has a small part for a role of
a transgendered weight lifter, perhaps to throw a curve ball to the
audience. There's also prominence given to gambling addiction, as
one would expect, from the plot, involving a casino for which Monte
Carlo is well known. There's the traffic of high value paintings, in
this case, Picasso and otherwise, and a mastermind plan from Nolte's
character to take possession of millions.
The filming spot adds value to the story, as the camera shows the
coutryside and also "in loco" filming in the city itself,
underlining its many glamourous and luxurious aspects, as its more
common aspects. The casino sequences, I find were done even better
than in 007's Casino Royale. The action is never slow ...time moves
rapidly over 90 mins, and the suspense is always present. Overall,
the GOOD THIEF's special effects, music, and more is well delivered,
and the story entertaining.
I wouldn't suggest this movie is intended for the patrons of Monte
Carlo, obviousl. I don't know exactly why the "Algerian" aspect is
combined into it, unless, the story writer felt first generation
newcomers from the Magreb deserved being associated with some of
what goes on in the movie, perhaps. A fun movie, and the law
enforcement is always present, throughout, to remind viewers
of the consequences.
Movie Review: Not one of Jordan's best, but still not bad at all
Summary: 3 Stars
Neil Jordan's filmography includes some memorable films (The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire, End of an Affair). It also includes some films that stirred controversy (In Dreams, Butcher Boy). The Good Thief does not belong to any of those two categories, which is not good. On the other hand, it might be not that bad after all.Without revealing the important parts of the story, The Good Thief is a heist movie without any heist. Bob (Nick Nolte) is an aging heroin addict and gambler, currently on a losing streak. As a result, he easily accepts the proposition of an old friend to participate in a big heist in a Monte Carlo Casino (The French Riviera offers ideal locations for the movie). While forming the group of people to assist him in his heist plans, he has to be careful of a cop following him (Tcheky Karyo), and at the same time, look after Anne, a Russian girl (Nutsa Kukhianidze) he saved from the man she was previously working for.
The problem of The Good Thief is that, as a heist movie, it cannot offer many original moments, but just original, stylish, I may add, ways to present the moments, common in all heist movies. In any case, as every heist movie that respects itself, it includes its twists and surprises. There is the loyal friend, the traitor, the girl, characters that you find in every film of the kind. But still, this one is different. It does not focus on the action (well, there is a car chasing scene, but, alas, with a comic conclusion), but on the characters. As a matter of fact, one of the most interesting points of the movie is the relationship between the thief and the cop, who may be Bob's only true friend.
The cast is international, with actors coming from many different countries. In small roles, you can find the excellent Bosnian director, Emir Kusturica, in a part that offers comic relief, along with Ralph Fiennes, who has just a few minutes of screen time, but manages to make us notice his presence. Still, Nick Nolte is the man that carries the film. He seems to be in every scene, his presence reassuring and confident. It is as if Nolte is getting better as he is getting older...
Special mention should be made to the soundtrack that blends ethnic, jazz with songs from Leonard Cohen and Bono.
Movie Review: Volume of Dialogue and Editing Nearly Ruined it for Me
Summary: 3 Stars
Nick Nolte stars as the gambling, heroin-addicted, former thief extraordinaire, Bob Montagnet living in France and trying to go on the straight and narrow. But one last heist has been tickling his itchy fingers, and now Bob plans to go out with a bang. Or at least that's what he wants the local authorities to believe.
Using double and triple fakes, Bob throws the police into a frenzied chase to find out exactly what he's up to, who's being double-crossed by whom, why he's spending all of his time with a pretty young immigrant named Anne (the lanky but lusty Nutsa Kukhianidze), and where he plans to be on the night of the big theft.
Of course he's right under their noses, with tons of witnesses and cameras. Nobody could've planned it better than Bob Montagnet.
A great cast and good acting by all made this a very watchable heist flick.
Although the plot has been over done in Hollywood (good thief going straight after one last job), Nick Nolte's characterization of Bob and all his follies made for an enjoyable flawed character study (someone who's getting old, still shoots heroin, fights with local club owners, but has a heart of gold).
Problems with the film are relegated to the film's editing and terrible level of volume during some pivotal moments. It was often times difficult to hear Bob talking with one person or another, especially during the planning stages of the heist, which made it very frustrating for me. I wanted to know WHAT was going on without turning my TV up to full-blast.
As others here have mentioned too, the editing of the film has problems. I'm not sure if this WAS an editing problem or a transfer to DVD issue, but at the end of each scene there was a half-a-second freeze frame that became maddening to watch.
Still an interesting film, though. And the music is extremely interesting to listen to also.