Culture 3 min read By Morgan Griffin
Noah Segan Discusses Rian Johnson's Influence on The Only Living Pickpocket in New York
Writer-director Noah Segan describes the lessons he took from longtime collaborator Rian Johnson and the inspirations behind his crime drama starring John Turturro, which opens in New York and Los Angeles on October 23.
Writer-director Noah Segan says his longtime collaborator Rian Johnson has been his biggest influence, both as a filmmaker and in how he approaches the people he works with. In an exclusive interview, Segan spoke about his new crime drama The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, the film's inspirations, and the advice he took from Johnson while making it.
The film follows Harry Lehman, played by John Turturro, an aging pickpocket who is struggling to earn a living in a changed city. Harry Lehman (John Turturro) is an aging pickpocket who plies his trade with ever-diminishing returns in a drastically changed New York. When he takes a valuable USB stick by accident, Harry finds himself in a race against time to return the loot or face the rage of a vengeful crime family. The story is set against a world where traditional skillset—stealing wallets—loses its viability in a society where people no longer carry cash.
Segan credits Johnson with teaching him the value of humor and a positive attitude on set. Segan credits Johnson with teaching him the importance of having fun and maintaining a positive attitude when working with collaborators. On the technical side, he said Johnson's screenwriting guidance gave him confidence in his own process. He said that, from a technical standpoint, Johnson is such a great writer that having his advice is paramount, and that watching him work on screenplays is very helpful because it gives you confidence that your brain can work.
Segan also said the character's skills came from an unexpected source. Harry's superpower was inspired by magician Ricky Jay. Segan explained that he wanted the character to be more than a physical thief. Let's not just make him a physical thief by making him a pickpocket. Let's give him the mental skills to steal a little something from our brains as well.
The film has had a long festival run before its theatrical release. The film had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 27, and its international premiere out of competition of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on February 20. Sony Pictures Classics presents the film, with tickets on sale now: it opens in NY and LA October 23, and nationwide October 30. The cast also includes Giancarlo Esposito, Will Price, Tatiana Maslany, Victoria Moroles, Steve Buscemi, and a cameo by Jamie Lee Curtis.
Critics have responded well to the film. The film received positive reviews from critics. One critic wrote that John Turturro gives one of the best performances of his incredible career in Noah Segan's melancholy crime drama. Segan has also said that shooting in New York on a low budget was an experience he would repeat. "Shooting in New York, and especially a low budget movie, I would do it again in a heartbeat," he said.
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