Street Thief

Enjoyed it a lot.

That's all.

It's a hard movie to summarize without spoiling it.

Saw it at the Chicago Int'l Film Festival last night, and if this does receive a theatrical release, I'd recommend going. Per the director, there may already be plans to release it on cable and DVD, and theatrical options for New York/Los Angeles/Chicago are being explored. Keep your fingers crossed.

I'm sure other people will add more useful comments, but someone had to get this started.

You will find yourself caring very much for Karr, despite is not so loveable persona. After all, he is an unrepentant thief with an overbearing ego. But, you will overlook all his flaws by the end.

Original and genius screenplay.

I actually just stumbled upon this title on Netflix recently and watched it based on reviews there. I have to say Malik Bader is pretty hairy and not so pleasing to look at but I think this adds to the griminess of his character, Kasper Karr. The fact that it is filmed in a documentary style makes it even better in my opinion. In an interview I read online Bader talks about how the documentary style makes the crime more realistic and it also provides for a unique character study feel for the viewer. In doing this it is also letting the viewer in on the street thief "profession" and showing a side most I think including myself are not used to seeing. That is of course an inside view of a street thief from the thief perspective and not the police or law enforcement side. Another point Bader makes in the interview I read online is that most crime oriented films don't bring you the realism you crave. But this film definitely does with the play by play of Karr's routine and his cold nature. It could almost be likened to an episode of dirty jobs! I'll give it an 8 for its edgy perspective on thievery and for its somewhat character study feel.

I'm amazed at the number of people Lexington this film and think it portrays an actual thief doing real crimes.

It isn't.

Nor could it.

If 'Kaspar' was as 'smart' as he constantly reminds the crew (and us), he'd be VERY dumb to have his face, filmed as well as filmed proof of his crimes.

Saying that, I WILL say that unlike a lot (most) other fake, documentary-styled fiction, it is VERY convincingly made.

As this is just a review, I'll only go so far as to say that some of the methods Kaspar used are not accurate (clever, yes - & a helluva lot better than either your typical 'crime' film, or - even what REAL thieves would do/use).

Director/star Malik Bader gets credit - for making Kaspar a fully-dimensional character.

Not a likable one, but, definitely believable.

This a sad stab at an actual documentary. The dialogue is consistently filled with hypocrisy it makes so easy to see the transparency. I usually root for the antihero, but in this case I'm watching to the end in the hopes that Kaspar gets busted and is sentenced to 20 or 30 years! You guys hungry?