‘Severance’ Star’s Sundance Crime Thriller is a “Knockout” Say Critics

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Noah Segan’s new crime thriller, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, starring John Turturro, is generating a lot of buzz after its debut yesterday, January 27th. Many are already predicting it could be a major talking point at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, and while an official Rotten Tomatoes score is still pending, early reviews are available to read.

In the film Pickpocket, we follow Harry (John Turturro), a professional thief, who gets in trouble after stealing from a dangerous man named Dylan (Will Price). The movie also stars Giancarlo Esposito, Tatiana Maslany, and Steve Buscemi, alongside John Turturro, who is well-known from the show Severance. The Hollywood Reporter called it a surprisingly powerful film.

John Turturro delivers a quietly powerful performance in what’s arguably his best role in years, portraying a man of integrity who’s haunted by the past and feels increasingly out of step with the modern world. What truly captivates in this film isn’t just the complex and nuanced portrayal of its main character, but also the richly detailed environment he lives in and the wonderfully drawn supporting characters, brought to life by a talented cast. The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is a reminder of how rare it is to see a film truly shot on location in New York City, and how much more authentic that feels.

The Guardian praised the film, calling it one of the best recent movies set in New York City.

Despite the potential danger Harry faces, the film portrays his journey across the city with a light and enjoyable feel, as he navigates without modern technology. While the plot point of reconnecting with his daughter feels a bit predictable, it provides a fantastic opportunity for Tatiana Maslany to deliver a powerful performance, conveying years of emotion in just one scene. There’s a humorous moment where she bluntly tells Harry he doesn’t look good, which feels a little unrealistic considering John Turturro looks great at 68 – he’s stylish without trying too hard. Turturro makes Harry a very appealing character, even if he’s not always morally upright, and I would have happily watched him for longer.

Variety praised John Turturro’s performance as both captivating and deeply moving, and called the film Pickpocket a genuine and much-needed love letter to New York City and the people who often go unnoticed. Deadline went even further, suggesting that the film could be an early awards contender and urging readers to remember Turturro when awards season begins.

‘Pickpocket’ Almost Made a Real Criminal Out of John Turturro


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Director Segan shared a funny story with Deadline about his 68-year-old actor getting really good at pickpocketing while filming. The actor became so skilled, he jokingly thought about continuing the practice even when they weren’t shooting scenes!

Sometimes John would tell me about moments where he almost did something impulsive. He’d call or I’d see him and he’d say something like, ‘I was on the subway after a game and saw someone who made me think I could have done something… but I didn’t, though it crossed my mind.’

To prepare for his role as Harry, Turturro researched pickpockets by reading David W. Maurer’s 1964 book, “Whiz Mob,” and even received lessons from Apollo Robbins, a professional pickpocket and performance artist.

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2026-01-28 20:03