The Best Thief in the World

R

2004

1h 33m

Drama

List

40%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

15%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

New York schoolteacher Sue Zaidman (Mary-Louise Parker) becomes her family's sole wage earner after her husband, Paul (David Warshofsky), experiences a debilitating stroke. With the crisis threatening to turn her household upside down, Sue's oldest son, Izzy (Michael Silverman), begins to rebel by hanging out with a bunch of neighborhood troublemakers. Sue must now struggle to regain control of her family, even as Izzy's behavior grows increasingly erratic.

Film Threat

Rated: 2/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Eugene Novikov

Film Blather

...beautifully ambiguous and filled with apparent discontinuities...

Rated: B+

Apr 12, 2004

Full Review

Eric D. Snider

EricDSnider.com

It has a pleasant, affable feel to it. It's a movie that wants you to like it, and is actually worth liking.

Rated: B

Mar 16, 2004

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 2/5

Mar 16, 2004

Full Review

Steve Rhodes

Internet Reviews

The harsh and grating techno score makes the movie as unappealing for the ears as the eyes. The underwritten film features unsympathetic and unbelievable characters.

Rated: 1.5/4

Feb 18, 2004

Full Review

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Audience Member

There is alot missing here in this low budget Showtime movie. Its a simple case of all the parts not adding up to a coherent movie. Izzy is the oldest of three children all dealing with a father who has had a stroke and a mother played by the adorable, Mary Louise Parker, who is trying to keep her family together knowing they have no money. The film follows Izzy as he acts out as a way of dealing with life by breaking into apartments and not stealing, but just hanging out. Not a bad movie, just not a good one.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the most painful movies I've seen in awhile, and that is not because of it's theme or plot... [Edit 2014: Okay maybe it's not that bad, it has some wasted potential...]

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Acting's not bad, but the movie itself is really passive despite the impactful stuff that happens.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Izzy, the youngest son of a troubled New York family, takes a shine to breaking into people's apartments as a way to get attention. I think this movie is boring.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Well acted but very slow moving at times. The plot is interesting though. Realistic cinematography. I had a hard time warming up to the characters, and for a film of this nature, that is essential.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Izzy, the youngest son of a troubled New York family, takes a shine to breaking into people's apartments as a way to get attention. I think this movie is boring.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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Jacob Kornbluth

Director

Mary-Louise Parker

Sue Zaidman

Michael Silverman

Izzy Zaidman

David Warshofsky

Paul Zaidman

Audra McDonald

Ruth

Lois Smith

Helen

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Synopsis

New York schoolteacher Sue Zaidman (Mary-Louise Parker) becomes her family's sole wage earner after her husband, Paul (David Warshofsky), experiences a debilitating stroke. With the crisis threatening to turn her household upside down, Sue's oldest son, Izzy (Michael Silverman), begins to rebel by hanging out with a bunch of neighborhood troublemakers. Sue must now struggle to regain control of her family, even as Izzy's behavior grows increasingly erratic.

Director: Jacob Kornbluth
Producer: Tim Perell, Nicola Usborne
Screenwriter: Jacob Kornbluth
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jul 2, 2007
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround