The Only Living Pickpocket in New York Movie Review

“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” is a fairly straight forward story about a small-time crook named Harry, played with extreme emotional depth by John Turturro.

Harry has a few issues outside of the fact that he rips people off. For one, even though it gets him to where he needs to be financially, he hates to be doing it. Maybe he’d be even more successful if so many feelings didn’t get in the way, and the fact that things have changed so much in this world that Harry can’t do as well now that things are nearly cashless, what with practically everything being done on phones. Not all wallets are for holding bills anymore. Bills are what he needs more than ever… not so much the phones and other electronics that can lead his mark to his whereabouts.

His wife Rosie (Karina Arroyave) is seriously ill and in a care facility. Not only do those bills rack up but he likes to pay some people who look after her, a little extra for special attention. When at home, she’s well taken care of by Harry himself. He knows how to change her catheter, give Rosie her meds and entertain her. She’s in a coma, so he only hopes that she likes his singing and dancing. Sadly, he can’t tell but what he does for her is very sweet, just in case. He’s lonely without her being able to talk so what else does he have to do?

We see his talents on display on the subway. We also get to witness him giving someone who’s attempting to lift a wallet out of a woman’s purse some advice on how to do it correctly. Save the old way of doing things, even though he’s a ghost in a world of cameras that can catch his face everywhere he goes.

His latest efforts, stealing from a young man named Dylan, pushes him blindly into the world of cryptocurrency, of which he has no knowledge, has him taking from someone who’s connected. Once he realizes the trouble he’s in, he is desperate to make amends for the problems he has caused. He tries to sell some of the stuff at his friend Ben’s pawn shop. Ben doesn’t want too much of it, especially a seemingly worthless USB card. It’s anything but worthless, it’s a currency locker filled to the brim.

It’s here where the movie moves at a faster pace. Harry considers the fact that his life touches others and needs to make sure he’s there for them. Obviously, Rosie’s, but he has an estranged daughter, as well. Their relationship ended long ago but he has to try and make it right. He goes to see her and the moment could go better for him, but he wants to give her a chance to say what she has always wanted to, while also giving himself a chance to make reparations. He holds onto the hope that he has been forgiven for leaving her and her mother while working. She judges him for all the wrong he had done when a younger man. His face drops when he hears her call him Harry. There’s sadness all over his face, proving how brilliant an actor John Turturro is in his portrayal of Harry. His moving work here will leave you shattered. The story is well established, and the end is well coherent and wise. It will not leave you wanting. I’m seeing the possibility of an Oscar Nomination in Turturro’s future.