Noah Segan, in his latest feature The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, has taken on a nearly impossible task: making a New York crime thriller feel fresh and interesting without treading the familiar ground that countless movies within the same genre have already covered. But by seamlessly blending nostalgia with an ever evolving city that doesn’t wait a single second for anyone within it, alongside an extremely enjoyable John Turturro leading performance, 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 scrimping his prizes together to secure a quick buck from his friend and pawnshop owner Ben (Steve Buscemi). The sign of the times, coupled with looking 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 possess the score of a lifetime in the form of a crypto key. But just as Harry thinks he has everything set, he learns the age old lesson that some things are too good to be true, and this particular haul could result in 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. Thanks to some incredibly sharp writing, though, it instead creates a really fun and distinctive take on New York’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 overly convenient in ensuring the movie is always hurtling forward at its frantic pace. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the whole thing feels like an adrenaline fuelled rush due to its short runtime. However, there are elements of the jeopardy Harry faces that could do with a little more development.
Notably, as the third act begins, there’s a complete tonal shift from crime thriller to something closer 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. Just when you think The Only Living Pickpocket in New York doesn’t have anything left to offer, you’ll realise that you’re the one who has actually been hoodwinked by its inventiveness.
Turturro has often been the bridesmaid, putting in countless memorable supporting performances over the years, but here he finally gets the chance to really shine and, my goodness, he takes it. Naturally charismatic, it becomes almost impossible not to root for him, which, given his criminal nature, almost feels forbidden. That, coupled with some genuinely raw emotion, elevates this otherwise grounded performance and ultimately makes the jeopardy he faces feel real.
While Turturro is undoubtedly the shining light of the entire movie, the supporting cast all rise to their respective tasks despite their relatively brief roles. Casting Giancarlo Esposito as an old school detective who has arrested Harry before is a stroke of genius. Their longstanding friendship doesn’t feel like 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 cringeworthy or simply too much, but he captures the nuances of the role remarkably well.
While not perfect, with the tonal shift likely to lose a few, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York does enough throughout to feel fresh and original. Surprisingly, it’s just as funny as it is entertaining and would be worth seeing for John Turturro’s performance alone. But it’s made all the more satisfying by being such a well written, engaging ride that is well worth the trip to the cinema.
