“In The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, director-writer Noah Segan yearns for a bygone Big Apple. The film, set in modern times, is a jazzy, sentimental ode to the New York City of yesteryear; it’s sappy and starry-eyed, but also tenderly humorous in bursts. At other times, the story becomes a sad glimpse into the lost art of pickpocketing — not that the production advocates for thievery, but Segan uses a slick aging swindler to reminisce about an American hub that’s been digitized by tech magnates and overrun with nepotism babies.
“John Turturro is magnificent as Harry, an old-school pickpocket who’s keeping the outdated art form alive. He has to; it’s the only way he can caretake for his non-responsive, invalid wife, Rosie (Karina Arroyave). One night, he swipes a wallet and gym bag from an especially prickish dudebro using only a penny; what he finds is a gun, wads of cash, and a doohickey that plugs into a computer. Harry trashes the gun and sells the credit-card-looking object with a USB plug, which turns out to be very, very important. Soon enough, thugs come looking for the revealed crypto key. Either Harry retrieves the stolen item, or he’s facing harsh consequences.
“Plain and simple, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York features veteran performers chewing up concrete scenery and strutting through a thrilling and wholesome caper. It’s a “one last hurrah” type of flick with a niche appeal that lets the ensemble shine. The faux confidence, the spoiled gangsters, the tired seniors who pray that newbies can learn an ounce of respect along the way — it’s all so memorably old-fashioned. Even with all that, Harry’s arc still latches onto your soul in a pure and special way. That’s the power of Turturro, but kudos also go to Segan’s rich idiosyncrasies that draw us into Harry’s gravitational pull.” — IGN Movies’ Matt Donato at Sundance ’26..
Sony Pictures Classics is opening TOLPINY in Los Angeles and NYC on 10.16.26, followed by a nationwide expansion soon after.