‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York’ is when the old game meets the new players

By Maxwell Siegfried

This movie begins in no other place than New York, where immediately, the main theme of pickpocketing is set. Tony Turturro who plays the main character of Harry, is what seems to be the last pickpockets left in New York.

At the beginning of the movie, there is an immediate glimpse of who Harry really is. Harry is an old man, who is living a hard life. Harry’s wife, Rosie (Karina Arroyave), is in a vegetative state that requires him to tend and take care of her, and that’s when viewers know—it’s not easy being Harry. Desperate times are seen in Harry’s life, yet Harry keeps pushing on. 

Everyday is the same for Harry, kiss his wife goodbye, pickpocket, sell what he stole, pick up his wife from the hospital, drop her off at home, then back to pickpocketing. Yet one day is a bit different, because Harry picks the wrong pocket. Harry picks the pocket of a young man named Dylan (Will Price), which leaves Harry with more than he wanted. 

Dylan, recognizing something was stolen, begins freaking out, and starts tracking down Harry. When Dylan locates Harry, he threatens him telling Harry to track down what he stole, or else Rosie will be killed. The journey to find what Harry pickpocketted commences and Harry is desperately searching and fighting his way through New York all to save the life of his dear wife Rosie.

On this journey, Harry connects back to reality. He recognizes that pickpocketing is a dying art, that it is not the best living, that he is not the best father nor husband and that his time is coming to an end. Through his journey we see amazing character development—that a man who once was the one stealing is now wanting to give everything to the people he loves.

“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” is a movie you don’t see everyday. This movie is a breath of fresh air to the movie industry. Categorized as a thriller, drama and crime, which are all true, there is more than meets the eye when watching this film. This movie shows that even though things may be a dying art, there is still art to it. Although pickpocketting is not the same as Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” there is a skill and craftsmanship to pickpocketting that the movie depicts as admirable and enthralling.

​The cinematography and shots of New York, make the audience feel like they are there in the film experiencing the city life. The acting is good, but there are definite moments that are unconvincing. 

What I find most fascinating about this movie is the title. At first it is a mouthful, but after watching the movie the title all comes together. Harry is one of the “last pickpockets,” yet “last”   does not mean there are no other pickpockets but rather that Harry is isolated and pickpocketting is disappearing. The deeper meaning of this movie is that Harry is not just a struggling to survive as a pickpocketer, but rather he is a man trying to find his place in the world that no longer seems to need him. 

I would rate this movie an 8/10. This is not just a surface level movie, but rather a deep and connected movie that pushes the viewer to understand who Harry is as the movie goes on. I would recommend this movie to anyone who has the time to watch it. This movie almost makes you want to start pickpocketing, understanding that it might be dying— but it is still an art.

“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” is currently playing in theatres.

Max Siegfried is a junior finance major and A&E writer! Max enjoys watching movies and writing about them. He also loves playing sports, having fun and spending time with family and friends.

Images courtesy of T-Street Productions and MRC Film.