What is the Dope Thief of Ridley Scott worth? (critical)

Follow Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura in the bowels of Philadelphia, in a deep thriller, between brutal action and black humor.

Far from the arenas of ancient Rome, this is another story of survival that tells Ridley Scott this week with Dope Thiefa new criminal series that arrives on Apple TV + (and also Canal + in France).

The director of Gladiator This time immerses us in the shallows of Philadelphia, where violence is everywhere. Producer and director of the first episode, Ridley Scott Strong with the start of the game and guides us through the meanders of this scathing thriller that he marks his imprint, injecting a raw and grayish aesthetic there that accompanies each galley of Ray and Manny, childhood friends who have become clumsy but cunning robbers: they have the absurd idea to pretend to be DEA agents – The Federal Bureau of the Anti -Drugogu to the USA Dealers of the suburbs of Philly. They strike the door, disguised as order representatives, false badges around the neck, and leave with money leaving their targets handcuffed. Until the day when they are tackling the bad thug, full of merciless humans. Here they are tracked down by a mafia organization which intends to make them pay.

The excellent screenwriter Peter Craigauthor of The Town (2015) and co-series of The Batman (2022), adapts the novel by Dennis Tafoya (2009) and signs a game of cat and breathtaking mouse, oscillating between the gloomy and black comedy. His series is clearly nourished by the codes of thrillers of the 1970s, as One dog afternoon (With Al Pacino), where raw action mixes with a more subtle reflection on human flaws. We also think of the television reference of the genre, The Wire. However, if Dope Thief manages to tickle these references, she never reaches the same level of dramatic lyricism.

The series shines above all by the strength of its central duo, a true emotional engine of the thriller. Brian Tyree Henry, known for its role in AtlantaAnd Wagner Mouralegendary performer of Pablo Escobar in Narcoshave fun in this dupe game. Two endearing losers, which make this dive captivating in the ruthless universe of crime. It is in the humanity of these two characters that the series finds its rhythm, embodying not only the dark side of the street, but also a form of fragility, despair and aspiration to a better life. They also bring a point of welcome humor which compensates for the darkness of the story and the violence of the series, which does not make details.

Dope Thief, season 1 in 10 episodes to see on Apple TV+ from March 14 in France.