TIFF Movie Review: ‘The Only Living Pickpocket In New York’

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Review by Adam Courtliff

Noah Segan in his latest feature The Only Living Pickpocket in New York has taken on a nearly impossible task: make a New York crime thriller feel fresh and interesting without treading the familiar ground countless movies within the same genre having already done. 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 Tuturro leading performance, he may just have done it.

Tuturro plays Harry, an old school pickpocket with the sleight of hand skills magicians crave for. Business is far from booming however, with the changing environment around him, less and less victims are carrying the cold hard cash he craves instead leaving him 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), leave 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 be possessing 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 something’s are too good to be true and this score 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 that Harry clearly is still living in. On paper, it’s a task that could’ve sank The Only Living Pickpocket in New York before it had even begun, but thanks to some extremely strong writing, it creates a really fun and unique take on the criminal underworld of New York.

That said, you will have to suspend some belief as the story begins to set its wheels in motion. There’s a fair few coincidental moments that feel very convenient in ensuring that The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is always hurtling forward at it’s frantic pace. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the movie does feel like an adrenaline fuelled rush due to it’s short nature, but there are elements of the jeopardy Harry faces that do feel like they could do with a little more development.

Notably, as the third act begins there’s a complete tonal shift from crime thriller to more family drama. It’s a shift that might leave a few scratching their head as new characters are seemingly introduced from nowhere, however if you stick with it, you will be thoroughly rewarded. As just when you think that The Only Living Pickpocket in New York doesn’t have anything left to offer you’ll realise that you’re the one that’s actually been hoodwinked by its inventiveness.

Tuturro has often been the bridesmaid putting in countless memorable supporting performances over the years, but in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York he finally does get a chance to really shine and my goodness he takes it. Naturally charismatic, it becomes almost impossible to not root for him, which given his criminal nature almost feels forbidden. That coupled with some genuine raw emotion makes this rather grounded performance feel so much more and ultimately makes the jeopardy that he’s facing feel real.

While Turturro is undoubtedly the shining light of the entire movie, the supporting cast in brief roles all rise up to their respective tasks. Casting Giancarlo Esposito as an old school detective that has arrested Harry before is a stroke of genius as their old school friendship doesn’t feel like a screen pairing but actual old 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 cringy and just too much but he captures the nuance of the character extremely 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 unique. Surprisingly just as funny as it is entertaining, it would be worth going to see just for John Turturro’s performance alone, but it’s made all the more of an enjoyable experience due to it being such a well written enjoyable ride that is well worth the trip to the cinema.