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The elaborate heist that kicks into motion early into Dominik Graf’s The Cat effectively douses the steamy sex scene that opens the film with ice cold water. As the well-tanned, brawny Probek (Götz George) stands naked at the window of the low-lit hotel room in which he’s just gotten his rocks off, and from where he’ll orchestrate much of his exacting plan, one can’t help but think of the antiheroes in Michael Mann’s crime films. That’s especially true once Probek dons a shirt and tie and meticulously puts together his assault rifle and sets up his telescope to check out the bank on the other side of the courtyard.

Indeed, Probek is the very image of the sharply dressed, highly professional criminal. And he takes on his duties in a god-like fashion as he serves as the unseen puppet master from above, secretly pulling...