The Only Living Pickpocket suits Turturro

Anyone who watches movies by Spike Lee, the Coen Brothers, or Adam Sandler knows how John Turturro shines in supporting roles. Given the chance to star with The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, Turturro glows brightly as a man reaching a turning point in an unorthodox career. Turturro plays Harry, a one-man-operation with a background working the streets and subways of New York for decades, grabbing whatever he can from the unprotected openings of purses, coats, and bags. Current times make the job more difficult, not so much from people paying more attention, but because he often ends up with things that have no resale value. So it seems at first with a jump drive, which writer-director Noah Segan puts into play to propel action when criminals force Harry to retrieve it. More of a contemplative character study than fast fueled actioner, The Only Living Pickpocket flourishes with its acting and actual locations. The cast include that other Coen Brothers favorite Steve Buschemi in a likeable turn as a pawnbroker. Jamie Lee Curtis shows up in an uncredited role, once again showing a flair for taking on a different look and style. But the show belongs to Turturro, with many shots focusing on small gestures and facial expressions that need no dialogue to reveal thoughts as a man who feels out of place in a technology-based world. Suiting Harry’s tone, the music score features the kind of jazzy sound found in crime movies from the 1970s. Music, citywide locations, and subtle acting join to create a low-key, moody ambiance.