The Thief Collector

2022

Action / Crime / Documentary

1
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 84% · 43 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 84%
IMDb Rating 6.8/10 10 713 713

Plot summary

In 1985, Willem de Kooning’s “Woman-Ochre,” one of the most valuable paintings of the 20th century, vanished into the Arizona desert after being cut from its frame at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. 32 years later, the $160 million painting was found hanging in the home of Jerry and Rita Alter in rural New Mexico.

Director

Allison Otto Photo
Allison Otto

Top cast

Glenn Howerton Photo
Glenn Howerton as Jerry
Sarah Minnich Photo
Sarah Minnich as Rita
Scott Takeda Photo
Scott Takeda as Doctor
Eric Banks Photo
Eric Banks as Tony
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
881.96 MB
1280*642
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 35 min
Seeds 1
1.77 GB
1920*964
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 35 min
Seeds 7

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by ksf-2 7 / 10

a stolen painting.. and the people who took it.

It's a truly interesting story of a family in new mexico. Jerry and rita alter have very modest jobs, but seem to take fancy, frequent vacations. To far-away exotic places. And have wild adventures. But how can they afford it? It turns out they are art thieves who stole a famous painting back in 1985. When they have both passed away, the painting is found in their house, which we discover right at the start of this film. But what else have they done? Are they also selling artifacts found on their adventures? Jerry actually wrote a book of short stories, which all sound much like confesions to crimes. And maybe even a much bigger crime! It's a very compelling story, but there are a couple things I think would have helped to complete the picture. First, the first time we watch the film, it's confusing when they switch back and forth from reading from jerry's book, then back to reality. After watching the film once, it all makes more sense. Second, the mystery raised right at the end of this film is never really resolved. The police investigator seems to have retired. We watch a guy use radar on the alter's back yard, which is now owned by someone else. Was there another crime committed? Was no-one willing to pay to dig up the septic tank? Was money the reason we never resolve what might have been a huge, bigger crime? It's a very interesting, true story, but sometimes confusing. And why do we never see or hear from the alter's two children mentioned early in the film. They don't seem to play any part here, except for the childhood photos shown. Directed by allison otto.
Reviewed by davidallenxyz 8 / 10

Full of intrigue

Ignore the average rating - this is a good documentary.The story of a married couple who worked in education and loved exotic overseas adventures, yet who also had a stolen $100m dollar painting on the wall of their home is interesting enough on its own. But as the documentary delves deeper, aided by the many photographs and writings the couple left behind, even more questions are raised about what they got up to while they were alive.Yes, it starts quite steadily, and the re-enactments seem a bit hammy at first, but persevere and you will be rewarded with a well crafted documentary about an astonishing story.
Reviewed by CinemaSerf 7 / 10

The Thief Collector

If you recall the last proper edition of the BBC sitcom "Only Fools and Horses", you''ll remember that "Del" and "Rodney" discover an old watch that turns out to be worth millions at auction. Well this is a real take on that scenario, as house clearance folks are brought in to clear the ranch of a deceased, ostensibly middle-class, American couple. On the wall in the bedroom they discover a painting. These guys are pretty knowledgable, and suspecting it might be worth something contact the experts who identify it as a long-missing painting by Willem de Kooning that was stolen from an Arizona museum. On further exploration of their home, the inspectors soon discover that this couple had quite a collection of things that had "gone missing" and we are soon presented with some rather fascinating facts around just how they went around the world "collecting" as they went. Their photographs offered an ideal portrait of a typically unassuming American couple, yet they seem to have been astonishingly adept at relieving owners of just about everything from artwork to rugs. With contributions from their friends and neighbours, the FBI and the incredulous (and engaging) clearance men this is actually quite an entertaining look at the sheer audacity of their behaviour and of their successful "in plain sight" attitudes that served both well. Can't say I cared too much for the painting - but now worth a nine figure sum, I'm sure the museum were glad to get it back - even if it took 30-odd years.
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