‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York’ and finding peace at the end of the world

“The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” starts off with bang – the plaintive tones of James Murphy crooning out LCD Soundsystem’s “New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down.” It’s an apt sentiment for writer/director Noah Segan’s new film, but he wrongfoots us in those first few moments. We watch as a businessman (played by John Gallagher Jr.) – your typical ill-fitting suit, martinis-at-lunch type of guy –readies himself for work. And maybe, for a second, we think the song is about this man as he zombie-walks his way through his sad little money-making life. But then, we catch a glimpse of the guy behind him on the subway – the pickpocket, Harry (John Turturro), who will slip the businessman’s wallet out of his jacket pocket, making it impossible for him to pay for those martinis at lunch. The song is not about the businessman, but rather he is the cause of the singer’s malaise. The businessman is the guy bringing guys like Harry down – changing the New York he once loved