Once a Thief is a film I learned existed a couple of weeks ago, while I was trying to track down a John Woo film from the 1990s of the same name. They're not related much besides the title.
Well, also, I guess they're both crime films, too, and they were both decent without being great, but that's okay. I really like heist/robbery movies, even when they're just so-so, and so I still got something out of this despite it being decent at best.
Probably the most notable thing about this is that it stars French superstar Alain Delon, and it's an English-language movie, and it might be the first non-French or non-Italian movie I've seen him in. His accent is quite strong throughout, which wouldn't have been a problem if I hadn't read somebody comparing his voice here to Schwarzenegger's. I couldn't stop thinking about that the whole film; it's kind of uncanny, and funny.
Elsewhere in the cast, Ann-Margaret is a bit wasted in a thankless "romantic partner" role, and the way Delon's character roughs her up without the film going out of its way to film say it's bad feels odd, maybe even for 1960s standards. Still, I wasn't around then, so maybe it sadly wouldn't have been as shocking to see in the 60s. Also, Alain Delon and Jack Palance playing brothers is kind of funny, because I'm pretty sure it's impossible for two people to look less alike.
Overall, it's watchable past the flaws, and there are enough moving pieces plot-wise to keep it from feeling too samey, with just the right amount of familiarity to make for a casual watch if you've already watched lots of crime movies (like me). Can't really recommend it highly, but can't call it awful, either.
Well, also, I guess they're both crime films, too, and they were both decent without being great, but that's okay. I really like heist/robbery movies, even when they're just so-so, and so I still got something out of this despite it being decent at best.
Probably the most notable thing about this is that it stars French superstar Alain Delon, and it's an English-language movie, and it might be the first non-French or non-Italian movie I've seen him in. His accent is quite strong throughout, which wouldn't have been a problem if I hadn't read somebody comparing his voice here to Schwarzenegger's. I couldn't stop thinking about that the whole film; it's kind of uncanny, and funny.
Elsewhere in the cast, Ann-Margaret is a bit wasted in a thankless "romantic partner" role, and the way Delon's character roughs her up without the film going out of its way to film say it's bad feels odd, maybe even for 1960s standards. Still, I wasn't around then, so maybe it sadly wouldn't have been as shocking to see in the 60s. Also, Alain Delon and Jack Palance playing brothers is kind of funny, because I'm pretty sure it's impossible for two people to look less alike.
Overall, it's watchable past the flaws, and there are enough moving pieces plot-wise to keep it from feeling too samey, with just the right amount of familiarity to make for a casual watch if you've already watched lots of crime movies (like me). Can't really recommend it highly, but can't call it awful, either.