In Noah Segan’s second feature as director, the actor and frequent Rian Johnson collaborator taps into gritty ’70s noir to tell the story of an analog criminal living in a digital world. John Turturro plays aging pickpocket Harry Lehman, who steals from the wrong person, in this case, a Gen Z mafia brat (Will Price) who wants his crypto wallet back. Steve Buscemi plays Harry’s fence, while Giancarlo Esposito appears as an NYC detective and former adversary of the titular character. Terrific performances make this sleeper hit a must-see.
New York City and John Turturro—two things that go great together. The actor’s first speaking role was in 1985’s “Desperately Seeking Susan,” as Ray, the Magic Club’s master of ceremonies. The film was shot at the historic Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights. This was followed by a plethora of films shot in and around the Big Apple through collaborations with Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, and Woody Allen.
In many scenes, we see Turturro’s Harry walking the streets of New York. He has to in order to make a living as a pickpocket. Of course, there’s also the subway, but the confined space is a bit more dangerous. But the landscape is changing. It’s a digital world. Many people use Apple Pay, Venmo, and Cash App. Harry doesn’t even own a cell phone.
One night, Harry scores on the city’s streets, lifting a wallet from an obnoxious young man named Dylan (Price). Using a penny trick, he also breaks into Dylan’s vintage ride and snatches a gym bag containing a gun, an expensive watch, and a USB drive loaded with Dylan’s crypto wallet. What Harry doesn’t know is that the Gen Z-er is a made guy, and that crypto wallet contains almost a million dollars of the mafia’s money.
Using surveillance cameras in the area, Dylan and his crew pin the theft on Harry. The USB drive also contains a tracker that activates when it’s plugged into a computer. Harry takes the loot to his fence, pawn shop owner Ben (Buscemi), who plugs in the USB drive, and just like that, it’s game over. The mafia boys raid Harry’s home in The Bronx, holding his disabled wife, Rosie (Karina Arroyave), hostage until they get the crypto wallet back.
“Pickpocket” brims with the same street energy as the Safdie brothers’ “Uncut Gems,” which was shot on 35mm. Segan stated he was inspired by 70s cinema, particularly “Taxi Driver” and “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” which were also filmed on 35mm, so I was surprised to learn the director insisted on shooting digitally. Cinematographer Sam Levy, however, had a secret weapon. He used the same Bausch & Lomb Super Baltar prime lenses used to shoot 1972’s “The Godfather” to achieve the vintage celluloid aesthetic while adding another layer to the film’s New York ties.
In one scene, Turturro gazes out a car window at the city he no longer recognizes. In that instant, I was taken back to DeNiro’s Travis Bickle in “Taxi Driver,” another dinosaur in a new, ever-changing landscape.
Adding to the nostalgia, it’s great to see Giancarlo Esposito and John Turturro reunite on screen after costarring in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” (1989) and “Mo’ Better Blues” (1990). In “Pickpocket,” the actors share gentle moments as two former adversaries, now friends, filled with mutual respect and understanding.
Harry’s loving relationship with his wife, Rosie, and his commitment to caring for her, along with his friendship with Ben, help balance the film’s gritty edge. This is Turturro at his finest. The quiet moments, as Harry reflects on his life, stand out thanks to the veteran actor’s unforgettable performance.
Segan wraps up his story with a nice cameo and the only ending that makes sense. Let’s hope Turturro finally gets his first Oscar nomination. He deserves it.
( 4 stars)
Now showing in theaters
This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Source: fortworthreport.org
