Video Review

The Thief

Reviewed by Mike D'Angelo | Apr 30, 1999

Details Movie Rated: R; Genres: Drama, Foreign Language

The marketing folk are working overtime to sell this Russian Best Foreign Language Film Oscar nominee as a sort of Kolya II (''He'll steal your heart!'' chirps the box copy, though the title in no way refers to the big-eyed cherub on the cover), but heartwarming The Thief decidedly isn't. On the contrary, it's a punishingly dour tale of dreams dismantled as a 6-year-old boy discovers the dispiriting truth about the army deserter who's dating his mom. Skillfully made, but monotonously glum. B-

Originally posted Apr 30, 1999 Published in issue #483 Apr 30, 1999 Order article reprints

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