Thieves Like Us

Thieves Like Us (1974) stands as one of Robert Altman’s most atmospheric achievements, a film that unfolds with the quiet depth and cadence of a novel. As one of the essays in the booklet rightly observes, it possesses a distinctly literary ambience: Altman allows his characters the time and space to breathe, revealing themselves through gestures, pauses, and subtle emotional shifts, while the viewer is gradually immersed in the textured mood of Depression‑era Mississippi.

A sense of inexorability hangs over Bowie (Keith Carradine), Keechie (Shelley Duvall), Chicamaw (John Shuck), and T‑Dub (Bert Remsen). Their world feels sealed off, almost hermetic, and each misguided decision only tightens the spiral toward tragedy. Altman frames their fates as part of a larger social machinery, where economic desperation and moral erosion push every path toward the same bleak conclusion.

Carradine and Duvall deliver luminous performances as lovers doomed from the moment they meet — tender, fragile, and achingly human. Yet the supporting cast is equally remarkable: John Shuck, Bert Remsen, Louise Fletcher, Ann Latham, and Tom Skerritt populate the film with figures that feel raw, lived‑in, and unforgettable. The cinematography by Jean Boffety is another essential pillar of the film’s atmospheric power, with its earthy palette, diffused light, and compositions that seem to capture the very air of the era.

It’s a joy to see Thieves Like Us receive such a beautiful restoration from…

Interesting title , great release , tribute to the old times and looks. Buy ut!

interesting film

Haven’t had a chance to watch this yet, unwatched pile is huge. Great packaging as normal.

This is a wonderful presentation of a somewhat less celebrated Robert Altman film. It's certainly not his most effective piece of work, but it's definitely worth watching for the excellent performances and great cinematography.