New 88-Minute Film Follows Aging Thief Racing to Return a Crypto Key

John Turturro plays Harry Lehman, an aging professional thief who navigates the streets and subways of New York City with fading skill. In his new feature, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, Harry steals a wallet and a card containing a USB stick from a young man named Dylan. Neither Harry nor his fence, Ben, played by Steve Buscemi, understands the value of the item. The card serves as an electronic key to a cryptocurrency account holding nearly $1 million.

Dylan, played by Will Price, tracks Harry down after his men beat Ben in his Chinatown pawnshop. Dylan gives Harry just over four hours to return the key. If he fails, Dylan will kill Harry’s catatonic wife, Karina Arroyave. The film, written and directed by Noah Segan, clocks in at 88 minutes. Segan is an actor known for his frequent collaborations with Rian Johnson, and this marks his first time behind the camera.

The narrative moves quickly through Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. Harry checks in with a friendly NYPD detective, Giancarlo Esposito, while searching for the specific location of the USB drive. He breaks into a locked storage room at a secondhand electronics shop to find the item. The camera work emphasizes the physical mechanics of Harry’s trade, showing him efficiently wiping fingerprints from a restored 1969 Plymouth Barracuda.

Turturro brings a sense of shabby elegance to the role of a man whose career is winding down. His performance pairs with a melancholy jazz score composed by Gary Lionelli. The film depicts a character who has spent a lifetime stealing in a changing city and is now facing his final act.

The story concludes with Harry visiting his estranged daughter, Tatiana Maslany. He also encounters Dylan’s grandmother and a mafia boss, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. A flashback reveals a previous heist that sets the stage for Harry’s resignation to his fate. The film ends with Harry accepting his end with quiet dignity.