Martin Scorsese loved this ultra-low-budget 1995 indie flick, which he called “inventive, exciting, and original.” Produced for $30,000, co-writer/director Matthew Harrison's Rhythm Thief offers a take on punk-ish independence on New York's Lower East Side that is reminiscent of Scorsese's early work, especially the beautifully grainy b&w cinematography, coupled with an unvarnished and unsentimental approach that perfectly captures the hardscrabble counterculture grit of the neighborhood. The story follows Simon (Jason Andrews), who sells bootleg music on the city sidewalks, coming down hard on other sellers who poach his patch, while also getting beat up himself by the musicians whose work he steals. Simon lives in a rundown apartment that is all but empty except for a mattress and a cat, yet life is good...until the day he rips off a militant girl punk band. Long a cult favorite, Rhythm Thief makes its debut on DVD with extras including audio commentary by Harrison, a “making-of” featurette, and a stills gallery. Recommended. (M. Johanson)
Rhythm Thief
Kino, 87 min., not rated, DVD: $24.95 Volume 23, Issue 4
Rhythm Thief
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