An unexpectedly emotional crime sequence from Peter Craig, author of The City and High Gun: Maverick.
Plot: Based mostly on Dennis Tafoya’s ebook of the identical identify, “Dope Thief” follows long-time Philly associates and delinquents who pose as DEA brokers to rob an unknown home within the countryside, solely to have their small-time grift develop into a life-and-death enterprise, as they unwittingly reveal and unravel the most important hidden narcotics hall on the Japanese seaboard.
Evaluate: The definition of what constitutes a “crime drama” has developed over time as extra nuanced takes on the subject material have given us implausible tasks starting from The Wire on the small display to The City on the large display. Peter Craig, the co-writer of Ben Affleck’s The City and The Batman, Gladiator II, Dangerous Boys For Life, and High Gun: Maverick, is aware of just a little about delivering portraits of criminals who’re greater than the crimes they perpetrate. Adapting Dennis Tafoya’s 2009 novel, Dope Thief takes a novel sequence of crimes and amplifies them by showcasing the brotherhood shared between the primary characters and their deep-seated connection to their family members. With completely beautiful performances from Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura and a strong supporting flip from Marin Eire, Dope Thief is not like some other crime drama I can consider.
Dope Thief opens with greatest associates Ray (Brian Tyree Henry) and Manny (Wagner Moura) on a stakeout of a dope home. At first, their commentary and interplay really feel like two DEA brokers getting ready for a raid. Nonetheless, as they execute their operation, it turns into evident that these two are criminals working a ruse to steal from different criminals. All of that is based mostly on Ray’s thought, and the pair manages to make a strong residing by stealing this fashion and getting away with it with out hurting anybody. Ray does so to assist his surrogate mom, Theresa (Kate Mulgrew), whereas ignoring his profession prison father, Bart (Ving Rhames). Manny makes use of his cash to supply for his girlfriend, Sherry (Liz Caribel). Ray and Manny function beneath the steerage of native prison Son Pham (Dustin Nguyen), however when a former acquaintance offers them a tip a few goal exterior of Philadelphia, Ray and Manny resolve it might be well worth the danger. However, when the theft goes south, the duo are on the radar of a mysterious kingpin who threatens to hunt them and their households down. As they race to guard themselves, Ray and Manny understand the vastness of the difficulty they’ve gotten themselves into.
Whereas a lot of Dope Thief‘s eight episodes focus on Ray and Manny, the full ensemble of this series is magnificent. Kate Mulgrew and Ving Rhames are great as very different parents to Ray, one of whom he closely admires and the other he blames for leading his life to where it has ended up. While Ray loves Theresa as a mother, his closeness to his brother, Manny, means everything to him, and as Ray struggles to find a solution to their predicament, he does so to protect those around him. With a young, aspirational attorney named Michelle (Nesta Cooper) on his side, Ray must also contend with the real DEA agents involved with the botched crime, namely undercover operative Mina (Marin Ireland) and her boss Mark Nader (Amir Arison). As we see both the investigation of Ray and Manny intensifying, Mina’s journey to get better from accidents sustained through the heist supplies Marin Eire with some of the difficult roles of her profession and a excessive level in her appearing skills. From speaking non-verbally by way of her standout efficiency within the finale, Marin Eire needs to be acknowledged come awards season for this efficiency.
Whereas Kate Mulgrew, Ving Rhames, Nesta Cooper, and 21 Leap Avenue veteran Dustin Nguyen carry out fantastically, the work shared between Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura is exemplary, particularly contemplating each actors have been knocking out roles for years. Henry, who has been in all the things from big-budget Marvel, Transformers, and Godzilla tasks to his Oscar-nominated flip in Causeway, has by no means been higher as he exudes charisma and emotional layers as Ray struggles along with his identification as a person, son, and brother. Wagner Moura, implausible in Civil Struggle and Netflix’s Narcos, balances out Ray’s impetuous nature whereas additionally struggling along with his personal dependancy. It’s much more spectacular as a result of Moura got here in on the final minute after Michael Mando left the mission early in manufacturing. A key scene in the course of the sequence involving Henry and Moura in a pick-up truck could also be one of many yr’s greatest performances and a stupendous portrait of affection between greatest associates I’ve seen on display.
Government producer Ridley Scott lent his expertise as director on the primary episode, with creator Peter Craig helming the finale. Jonathan Van Tulleken, Tanya Hamilton, and Marcela Stated helmed the opposite six chapters of Dope Thief, with Craig serving as the only real author for your complete sequence. Adapting the story from a novel meant the construction was already in place. Craig and Scott arrange the primary episode with a gritty and reasonable tone, making me marvel if this sequence may have been impressed by an actual occasion moderately than a piece of fiction. The gritty look of the Philadelphia setting lends a way of realism to the story that elevates it from being a present or a cinematic creation to one thing extra resonant. All 5 administrators current a cohesive visible really feel to Dope Thief that’s elevated by a fantastic soundtrack, with some songs factoring instantly into the plot. The episodic nature of Dope Thief helps construct the story throughout eight chapters towards a devastating finale that can hit you proper within the intestine.
Dope Thief works in addition to it does as a result of the energy of Peter Craig’s writing turns what may have been a extra rote crime drama into one thing extra emotional. Whereas many actors may have taken on the problem of this mission, the chemistry between Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura cements the connection between Ray and Manny, elevating their story to one thing greater than I used to be anticipating. With Kate Mulgrew and Marin Eire delivering implausible supporting performances together with Nesta Cooper and Ving Rhames, Dope Thief is a strong portrait that looks like an adaptation of a real story, due to the layered funding made in every character. Henry and Moura are excellent as Apple TV+ brings yet one more excellent restricted sequence to their platform.
Dope Thief premieres on March 14th on Apple TV+.
