Director: Noah Segan
Writer: Noah Segan
Stars: John Turturro, Will Price, Steve Buscemi, Giancarlo Esposito
Synopsis: When a theft goes awry, a veteran pickpocket is sent on a mission through New York to reclaim it.
Noah Segan, in his latest feature, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, has taken on a nearly impossible task: make a New York crime thriller feel fresh and interesting without treading the familiar ground countless movies within the genre have already covered. But by seamlessly blending nostalgia with an ever evolving city that doesn’t wait a single second for anyone, alongside an immensely enjoyable leading performance from John Turturro, he may just have done it.
Turturro plays Harry, an old school pickpocket with the sleight of hand skills magicians crave. Business is far from booming, however, as the changing environment around him means fewer and fewer victims are carrying the cold hard cash he desires. Instead, he’s left scraping together whatever valuables he can find to secure a quick buck from his friend and pawnshop owner Ben (Steve Buscemi). This sign of the times, coupled with having to look after his disabled wife Rosie (Karina Arroyave), leaves him desperate for a big score.
That leads him to Dylan (Will Price), a cocky, far too big for his boots whippersnapper who happens to be in possession of the score of a lifetime in the form of a crypto key. But just as Harry thinks he has everything figured out, he learns the age-old lesson that some things are too good to be true, and this particular haul could have deadly consequences for himself and his loved ones.
While the “crypto bro” is fast becoming an overused trope in any crime movie that dabbles in the cryptocurrency realm, Segan’s script brilliantly blends a modern day New York with a 1970s style aesthetic to portray the world Harry is clearly still living in. On paper, it’s a task that could’ve sunk The Only Living Pickpocket in New York before it had even begun. But thanks to some exceptionally strong writing, it creates a genuinely fun and distinctive take on the city’s criminal underworld.
That said, you will have to suspend some disbelief as the story begins to set its wheels in motion. There are a fair few coincidental moments that feel a little too convenient in ensuring the movie is always hurtling forward at its frantic pace. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the whole experience plays out like an adrenaline fueled rush due to its short runtime, but there are elements of the jeopardy Harry faces that could certainly do with a little more development.
Notably, as the third act begins, there’s a complete tonal shift from crime thriller to something more akin to a family drama. It’s a change that might leave a few scratching their heads as new characters are seemingly introduced from nowhere. However, if you stick with it, you will be thoroughly rewarded. And just as you’re settling into the notion that the film doesn’t have any more surprises up its sleeve, you’ll realize that you’re the one who’s actually been hoodwinked by its inventiveness, having fallen foul of its own sleight of hand tricks.
Throughout it all, though, Segan ensures that his movie serves as the ultimate love letter to New York. Whether it’s the needle drops, with LCD Soundsystem kicking things off from the very beginning with “New York, I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down,” or the jokes Harry and his longtime friends make about the various boroughs, there’s an unmistakable affection for the Big Apple running through every aspect of the production. That admiration is also captured wonderfully by cinematographer Sam Levy, who brings the hustle and bustle of its streets to life with such an evocative visual style that those who call the city home, or have simply visited, can find themselves getting lost in its magic once more.
Turturro has often been the bridesmaid, putting in countless memorable supporting performances over the years, but here he finally gets a chance to really shine, and my goodness does he take it. Naturally charismatic, he becomes almost impossible not to root for, which given his criminal nature almost feels forbidden. That, coupled with some genuinely raw emotion, elevates this rather grounded portrayal into something far more affecting and ultimately makes the danger he’s facing all the more real.
While Turturro is undoubtedly the shining light of the entire movie, the supporting cast, despite their brief roles, all rise to their respective tasks. Casting Giancarlo Esposito as a veteran detective who has arrested Harry before is a stroke of genius, as their longstanding friendship doesn’t resemble a screen pairing but rather two actual friends catching up. Will Price as the main “villain” is also noteworthy. It’s very easy for the crypto bro character to come across as cringy and just too much, but he captures the nuances of the role remarkably well.
While not perfect, with the tonal shift in the final act likely to lose a few viewers, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York does enough throughout to achieve that elusive feeling of being fresh and original, more than justifying its existence. Surprisingly just as funny as it is entertaining, it would be worth going to see for John Turturro’s performance alone. But thanks to its clever writing and infectious energy, it becomes an even more satisfying experience and a thoroughly worthwhile trip to the cinema.
