Thief represents Film at its very best, a movie for the most part overlooked as to its standing in the industry. It pulls no punches, deriving its credibility by unabashedly laying out a theme of corruption in the Chicago police force. It is that story that needs to be told, but it is that very reason why movies like Thief don't make it to the annual event at the Academy.
Thief is so much more than that, however: the uncompromising talent of James Caan, the perfect casting of Tuesday Weld and Robert Prosky, the cinematography, the film script, and so on.
Of course, one would be totally remiss in not acknowledging the role played by Tangerine Dream, what an amazing score.