“Michael Mann’s “Thief” is a film of style, substance, and violently felt emotion, all wrapped up in one of the most intelligent thrillers I’ve seen.” – Roger Ebert

Glistening wet streets, intense neon lights, transient spaces, reflective objects, cool-blue color palette, and a pulsating score. Yeah, it’s all the recognizable nuggets of Michael Mann’s visual style, which isn’t just about remaining ‘showy’, but also remains wholly attuned to the story’s emotional textures. And, what’s fascinating about these confident and meticulous visuals is that Mann accomplished it all in his feature-film debut “Thief” (1981) itself.

The recurring themes in Mann’s works involving hardened, urban males are also present here. A single, rigorous frame and handful of colorful dialogues in “Thief” could serve as a fine blueprint for cinephiles on what to expect from Mann’s masterful film-making skills. Thematic and narrative wise, Mann’s debut...