You’ll be riveted watching John Turturro, who is on camera every minute as Harry, the pickpocket pro with smooth, barely detectable moves. It is way overdue for this actor to be cast as the lead. In this tense crime caper, he seems to fit right in with the New York crowd, and he does, as the actor grew up in Brooklyn.
Harry fits in with the riders on the subway, or breaking into an unlocked car surreptitiously lifting a sports bag from the back seat thinking he scored big. That’s until he tries to pawn a stolen piece of high tech from his long-time buddy, Ben, (Steve Buscemi) that sets the a dangerous situation in motion. He has no idea what he’s holding let alone what a USB drive does. But he becomes more and more frantic knowing he must return it or face violence to himself and his family from a very brutal crime family looking for it…and him.
Director Noah Segan packs a lot in this one and a half hour thriller. He shows Turturro doing some serious sleight-of-hand moves you might find very enlightening. He got to learn the tricks of the trade from very slick real magician/pickpocket, Apollo Robbins who gave him good tips in prep for the role. It’s like watching a magician in Las Vegas performing in front of an audience, but this time his subjects are the unsuspecting public, anyone who looks like they might have something of value. Now, because of technology, with cameras everywhere, no cash but use of credit cards with or without a physical card, being a pickpocket isn’t always as profitable as it used to be.
Turturro is most recently known for his Emmy Nominated TV work in Severance and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. He’s always never needed a big role to be noticed. And Turturro just starred on stage opposite Paul Giamatti and Tatiana Maslany in American Repertory Theater’s run of Rhinoceros in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which was physical in a different way.
Here, Harry plays an old school kind of criminal. In other words he considers himself a professional and plays by a specific code. Think “honor among thieves.” His relationship with Detective Warren (Giancarlo Esposito) goes way back. As does that with pawn shop owner, Ben (Steve Buscemi) who is the fence Harry always took his loot to for cash. Giancarlo and Buscemi are so comfortable in their roles with Turturro having previously worked together. Like Harry, the Detective is Old School and resents being put out to pasture by the young hotshots going after cyber-criminals instead of working a beat on the street. Even though Harry’s been arrested by Warren in the past, they have grudging respect for each other. It’s one of two sweeter parts of the story.
During 36 hours trying to keep ahead of the guys looking for him, Harry gets to think about past mistakes while trying to make plans for those he loves, if he’s not able to get back to them. His wife, Rosie (Karina Arroyave) is paralyzed, silent, and bed ridden, yet he is so loving and attentive, carrying her wherever she has to be moved.
You get to know another side of Harry when he desperately tries to connect with his daughter Eve, (Tatiana Maslany) for the first time in a long time. Maslany came in for one day to shoot her gut wrenching role.
Segan shot scenes in every borough creating a lot of texture starring Turturro on his home turf. You can see him relish playing this meaty part with calculated misdirection Director Noah Segan handles with a delicate touch. Harry will steal your heart.
Sony Pictures Classics 1 Hour 28 minutes R
