As "Vjeran Tomic: The Spider-Man of Paris" (2023 release from France; 86 min) opens, we are introduced to Vjeran Tomic, who speaks into the camera. "I steal from the rich. I don't regret it." as we see (re-enacted) footage of someone prancing on the rooftops of Paris apartment buildings. We then go to "Paris, May, 2010", as Tomic is getting ready to rob the Paris Museum of Modern Art. At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from director Jamie Roberts (Four Hours at the Capitol, Escape from Kabul). Here Roberts sits down with a notorious art thief and burglar. The big problem is that there is no archive footage of anything Tomic has done. Indeed, the entire documentary consist of (i) re-enactments and (ii) talking heads including of course Tomic but also some of the police force that got on the case of the art heist. As for being the "Spider-Man of Paris", that may well be the case but in and of itself has NOTHING to do with the Paris Museum of Modern Art heist, which is the center piece of this documentary. All in all, this documentary, even as short as it is, left me confused and unfulfilled.
"Vjeran Tomic: The Spider-Man of Paris" started streaming on Netflix a couple of weeks ago. Netflix "suggested" it to me based on my viewing habits. Most of the times these suggestions work out quite well. Alas, not this time. Of course don't take my word for it. So if you are in the mood for a look at the biggest art heist in France's history, I'd suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from director Jamie Roberts (Four Hours at the Capitol, Escape from Kabul). Here Roberts sits down with a notorious art thief and burglar. The big problem is that there is no archive footage of anything Tomic has done. Indeed, the entire documentary consist of (i) re-enactments and (ii) talking heads including of course Tomic but also some of the police force that got on the case of the art heist. As for being the "Spider-Man of Paris", that may well be the case but in and of itself has NOTHING to do with the Paris Museum of Modern Art heist, which is the center piece of this documentary. All in all, this documentary, even as short as it is, left me confused and unfulfilled.
"Vjeran Tomic: The Spider-Man of Paris" started streaming on Netflix a couple of weeks ago. Netflix "suggested" it to me based on my viewing habits. Most of the times these suggestions work out quite well. Alas, not this time. Of course don't take my word for it. So if you are in the mood for a look at the biggest art heist in France's history, I'd suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.