The Jewel Thief

For some reason I decided to watch Spielberg's Catch Me if You Can again a few days ago. Then, just last night, I saw this doc on Hulu, with the subject saying the phrase in the trailer. Had to watch it. Glad I did.

Very well made doc about a career criminal and his escapades. The sheer audacity, patience and attention to detail this guy displayed while planning and executing his heists was unbelievable. Had to stop the film and check the internet to make sure this was a real doc and not fiction filmed documentary style.

This was also similar to Catch Me in that both protagonists enjoyed embellishing their own already over the top capers. Highly recommended.

Monie industry in US and Europe must stop grorifying criminals, making villains more appealing to the eyes of public.

This documentary showed how mesmerizing the main character as a con man and they let him stayed free to bait bigger criminals without catching the guy. Law enforcement looked week and mesmerized by how clever the Blanchard stole millions. I'm not a law enforcer nor I claimed to be knowledgeable about criminal nor law enforcement but it looked to me by reason of catching the big fish terrorist financier, they willing to put a blind eye on what Blanchard had done.

They way I see it, if you don't cut the arms of criminal octopus arms, then you empower the criminals.

"The Jewel Thief" on Hulu. It's a wild ride through the life and times of Gerald Blanchard, a criminal mastermind who could give James Bond a run for his money, minus the suave looks, spy gadgets, world-saving missions, and, well, the charm with the ladies. But hey, we've got something better-real-life audacious heists!

The story unfolds in the picturesque and über-exotic Vienna, Austria, at the Schönbrunn Palace Museum (yes, it's exotic because there's an umlaut in the name). Groovy bass riffs and waka-waka guitar tunes set the stage, with folks on screen marveling at the genius (and sheer audacity) of Blanchard's crimes. Picture this: a parachutist landing on the museum with an umlaut in its name. That's the kind of entrance only a criminal genius can pull off!

As the documentary kicks into gear, they don't just throw around the "greatest criminal mind" title lightly. You'll see the word "Mostly" pop up in serious typewriter font, just to remind us that, well, not everything we're about to hear may be entirely rooted in reality. But who needs reality when we're diving into this rollercoaster of a story?

Buckle up, folks; we're about to uncover the origins of this not-so-secret criminal prodigy.

I haven't seen a documentary this good with such an unbelievably ridiculous over the top, never in a million years story that is still boggling my mind that it all happened for real.

It is a crime this phenomenal story has not been made into a movie yet but now with the release of this perfect documentary detailing the most unbelievable mastermind thief the world has known. It's going to be a bidding war between studios. If Netflix doesn't already have something in the works. Hulu really hit the nail on the head with this one. Everything about this doc. Is exactly how I like a story to unfold. Like a safe being cracked. Or maybe an ATM. NO SPOILERS GO WATCH IT!

A sad story of a talented boy who failed to grow up and evolved into a talented, selfish, angry man-child.

The documentary's celebration of a lifetime of lying, cheating and stealing is misguided. The video clips of his adopted mom document the years of pain and heartbreak he caused her.

One cannot help but wonder if during his teenaged years, a positive role model in his life might have saved him. He could have been an amazing engineer...

Finally, the legal system's treatment of him demonstrates how the legal system contributes to criminal careers / activity.

All that talent. Such a waste. Sincerely, JTS.