2 weeks Ago
In "Dope Thief," premiering Friday on Apple TV+, old friends Ray (Brian Tyree Henry) and Manny (Wagner Moura) are running a scam in which, dressed as DEA agents, they scare small-time Philadelphia dope dealers out of money and drugs. They pride themselves on being well prepared, knowing the layout of whatever house they're about to bust into waving badges and guns, but getting out without violence. Apart from that, and staying straight, it's a quiet life.
Into this balanced world comes Rick (Spenser Granese), who suggests they might find the work less dangerous and more profitable a couple of hours outside of town; and, though anyone watching at home can see this is a mistake and Rick is not cut out to be a reliable collaborator, off they go, into a caper in which everything goes wrong. Suddenly, Ray and Manny find themselves caught between the cops and a cartel, as an unidentified voice delivers increasingly scary messages to the effect that everyone they hold dear is now a target, and hairy bikers circle ominously. That's about all I'll say about the plot, except that it will go in mostly surprising ways and involve a large cast of memorable characters, including Kate Mulgrew (terrific, a galaxy away from Capt.
Janeway, committing to the Philly accent) as Theresa, who raised Ray after his father (Ving Rhames) went to prison, and Nesta Cooper as Michelle, a sympathetic lawyer who prompts one to wonder "Will this become a love interest?" Advertisement Dustin Nguyen plays Son Pham, a Vietnamese American gangster,...
Robert Lloyd.
