{"id":344984,"date":"2026-09-12T13:48:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T13:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/344984\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T13:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T13:48:18","slug":"the-only-living-pickpocket-in-new-york-review-tiff-alone-not-lonely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/344984\/","title":{"rendered":"The Only Living Pickpocket in New York Review (TIFF): Alone, Not Lonely"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"THE<\/a>THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK key art<\/p>\n

I went into The Only Living Pickpocket in New York knowing that John Turturro was in it, and that was about it. But I am so glad that I saw this movie, because it is absolutely sublime. The film seamlessly blends a classic 70s thriller with modern sensibilities, and writer-director Noah Segan uses his cast perfectly, creating a movie that will work for a broad audience as well as someone who might bandy about the phrase cinephile.<\/p>\n

Harry (John Turturro) has spent his whole life as a thief. He has steadfastly stuck with the areas that he is comfortable with, refusing to learn about things like \u201cEtsy\u201d or \u201cUSB drives.\u201d So when he lifts a piece of crypto-tech from Dylan (Will Price), a cocky kid who happens to be part of a New York crime family, Harry finds himself embroiled in a situation that he cannot escape. His only hope is to get what Dylan asks in order to save his catatonic wife, Rosie (Karina Arroyave).<\/p>\n

Part of what makes The Only Living Pickpocket in New York such a delight is that we know how it will end right from the start. Generally, a story being predictable might feel like a hindrance to a film\u2019s enjoyment, but in this case, it is an asset. Harry\u2019s fate is set from the start, but the path to that inevitability keeps our attention throughout the movie. And while we do get to see some fun lifts, the how is never as important as the why, which is infinitely more compelling.<\/p>\n

This is also a fantastic study on what it is to be at the top of your game and still begin to feel obsolete. Harry always visits Ben (Steve Buscemi) to try to unload his haul, but as things move away from cash and valuable items like phones are easily tracked, Ben also finds that it is harder to fence these goods. Even Detective Warren (Giancarlo Esposito), who has a complicated relationship with Harry, finds himself being pushed out of the good office as his division is no longer considered a priority. The old-heads are on their way out, talent be damned.<\/p>\n

There is not one weak performance in this movie. Price feels like every entitled tech bro in existence. Buscemi comes across as the kind of guy who is trying to adapt, but is also perfectly happy with his desktop computer running on Windows 95. Even Tatiana Maslany<\/a>, who plays Harry\u2019s estranged daughter, Kelly, has a brief, yet remarkably powerful scene.<\/p>\n

But there is no question that this is Turturro\u2019s film, and he is at the top of his game in this role. Whether he is teaching a young pickpocket the tricks of the trade, dancing for his wife, or inventing a story to weasel his way into places that he shouldn\u2019t be, Turturro is effortlessly cool. Every choice oozes confidence and charm, so in the moments when that slips, it is even more effective. I believed without question that he had spent a lifetime lifting wallets and slipping watches from wrists.<\/p>\n

Segan\u2019s writing and direction in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is beautiful, and the edit from Hilda Rasula keeps the pacing absurdly tight and engaging. The action is lifted perfectly by Gary Lionelli\u2019s phenomenal score. Every element in this movie works together to create something truly extraordinary.<\/p>\n

In a scene where Harry is giving advice to a young pickpocket, he explains to him, \u201cYou might work alone, but you don\u2019t have to be lonely.\u201d As someone who has a largely solitary profession as a writer, I found this personally encouraging. Hearing that while at TIFF, watching beside my Finnish colleague and friend, Joonatan Itkonen<\/a>, made it feel all the more authentic. Even if our friends aren\u2019t part of our specific task, they are part of our community, and that is necessary to do the job.<\/p>\n

The realization that your skill set is moving toward irrelevance can be unnerving. To build any talent requires time and patience, and it is no guarantee that it will translate easily as systems are updated. The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is a fantastic, engaging thriller, and if that were all it was, it would be a really great movie. But it is something more. It is also a reminder that there will be a time for all of us to say good-bye, and when we do, it doesn\u2019t hurt to have a trick or two up our sleeve. Or at least a candy bar.<\/p>\n

Rating: 5\/5 <\/p>\n

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