The Thomas Crown Affair

A fun-filled flick by mingling a thrilling museum-heist caper with an outlandish love story . This is a good remake to the classic (1968) by Norman Jewison starred by Steve McQueen , Faye Dunaway , Paul Burke , Jack Weston ; this ¨The Thomas Crown Affair¨ (1999) by John McTiernan boasts a stunning cast , such as Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo, Denis Leary , Ben Gazzara . Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan who produced too) is a handsome , self-made billionaire who delights in theft and as he just can't resist pulling off the perfect crime , a daring , engrossing daylight museum robbery . But the rich industrialist is mercilessly chased by a gorgeous and efficient insurance investigator (Rene Russo) and a cunning police inspector (Denis Leary) , both of them determined to nab him . Brosnan and Russo , together and the slickest gang that ever robbed a museum ! How do you get the man who has everything? When You Raise The Stakes , You Heighten The Attraction . Crime does pay. Handsomely. He was attractive , handsome, jet-setting millionaire - and he'd just pulled off the perfect crime!. She was charming , beautiful , a super sleuth - sent to investigate it ! How do you get the man who has everything? When You Raise The Stakes, You Heighten The Attraction. Crime does pay. Handsomely.

Amusing and entertaining yarn that combines the necessary ingredients for a fun-filled film , alongside a colorful cinematography by Tom Priestley Jr and atmospheric soundtrack by Bill Conti . Slick , lavish rendition with innovative techniques through the competent shooting , and being the best visual scenes the seduction match between the two and eventually falling in love . Made with strong production with the museum raid scenes tautly effective . The storyline is too slight and enjoyable , providing amusement and entertainment enough . This is an agreeable and fun reboot but everyone seems to be an overlong copy of the excellent original , being a bit too hard to make it looks effortless . Stars two great protagonists , Pierce Brosnan at his best as a stubborn thief who moonlights as an art robber and Rene Russo as an unscrupulous insurance investigator who happens to be tracking him ; both of whom expanding their characters enough for us to identify fully with them . The verbal sparring and emotional tricks between these two compelling stars are a complete diversion and real joy . Being well accompanied by a sympathetic support cast , such as : Denis Leary , Ben Gazzara, Frankie Faison, Fritz Weaver, Charles Keating , Mark Margolis and special appearance from Faye Dunaway as Brosnan's shrink .

The motion picture was competently directed by John McTiernan who delivers innovative techniques that really move the story along . McTiernan is a prestigious and veteran filmmaker , his greatest film was , of course , ¨Predator¨. John was offered the chance to direct Commando (1985), but turned it down , but then he worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger later on ¨Predator¨ (1987) and ¨The last Great Hero¨ (1993). He is a good filmmaker , though the present-day is retired, and known for directing high-energy, violent action adventures and powerful thrillers , such as : ¨Die hard¨, ¨Die hard with a vengeance¨ , ¨13 warrior¨, ¨The hunt for Red october¨, ¨The Last great hero¨,¨Rolllerball¨ , ¨Nomads¨ , among others . Rating : 7/10 . Worthwhile watching .

This is my top feel-good movie, I've watched it a thousand times and still haven't got bored of it. I love everything about it; the fascinating characters with their sizzling chemistry dancing around to the AMAZING score, playing cat and mouse. The smart, different than the usual, romantic story, that leaves out the melodramatic scenes, the cheesy lines and the lingering happy endings with that unbearable mellow music. The breathtaking surroundings. Pierce Brosnan portrays the epitome of the charismatic, fun, intelligent man -so so hot- and Rene Russo is his absolute perfect match and equal opponent; a self made, powerful, elegant woman in a man's world -how inspiring. On top of all that, there's their impeccable, classy style and great taste, to emphasize their status. If only the police wasn't portrayed as that goofy. But then again, it's too perfect to mind one little flaw!

If you've seen the original version and don't see the point in watching a different version of the same story don't worry; apart from the protagonist's name and general themes there are more than enough differences to make this worth watching.

Thomas Crown is one of New York's ultra-rich; he owns his own company and partakes in expensive sports. He is also bored. To alleviate that boredom he stages a heist in a museum and walks away with a painting valued at one hundred million dollars. The police start investigating and are soon joined by Catherine Banning, an insurance investigator hoping to save her employers from having to pay out. She quickly suspects Crown and soon a flirtatious game of cat and mouse begins as she tries to prove her suspicions and he leads her on without giving her the evidence she needs.

Remakes are seldom quite as good as the original, making them somewhat redundant, but thanks to the differences I'd definitely recommend this. The way the robbery takes place and later behaviour makes this Thomas Crown a slightly less amoral character. The robbery itself is enjoyable thanks to the way it is undertaken; the lack of real threat to people in the museum makes it easier to enjoy without feeling guilty. Once Catherine Banning arrives her character is at least as important as Crown and her pursuit of him is a lot of fun. The cast does a fine job most obviously Pierce Brosnan who is suitably suave as Crown and Rene Russo who brings a mature sexiness to the role of Banning. Overall I still prefer the original but still recommend this fun mix of crime and romance.

Obligatory comparison to the first film: The first Thomas Crown Affair really wasn't that great with its split screens that would make even Brian De Palma sick. Like other films from that era of history, it's lost some of its shock with time but unlike true classics, Thomas Crown Affair has lost a lot of its charm. Worth a viewing, but not worth worshipping.

Only vague concepts carry over from film to film, really. The same basic plot curve, same basic events, same basic characters, except everything is retold and reinterpreted from a different point of view. And I much prefer John McTiernan's interpretation despite the more glaring plot holes such as 'Why didn't the security tape reveal who set the briefcase in the gallery to begin with?' Theoretically the culprit could've been caught then and there, but then there'd be no movie.

The caper's execution is rather spectacular, far more entertaining than the original's, though much less likely to happen. But who cares, really? McTiernan directed this as a film you can't take 100% seriously anyway. This is a fun cat and mouse movie, not a documentary.

The premise-an art theft-strikes me as more interesting than the original's robbery; besides, how many films have bank robberies? How many films steal art? It's something different.

The characters and their portrayals are colorful and interesting, walking a thin line of camp but never pushing it too far. This movie isn't about 'Everyman' nor is it meant to. It's about a billionaire who gets his kicks out of high stake gambles and wages-how do you do that without a larger than life portrayal?

I particularly liked the ending sequence, as goofy, perhaps corny as it is, it's still fun. Especially the music selection, Nina Simone's Sinnerman, a well chosen track. Bill Conti provides the underlying score, which proves quite unique having a slightly bouncy 'piano recital' quality to its first few themes. Very fitting for the museum setting. It's a CD worth purchasing for the sake of variety alone.

In the end, Thomas Crown Affair works not because of the film's subjects or its characters . . . it works because of -how- it portrays everything. Its tone is fun and relaxing, and it never tries to take itself too seriously. After all, we are at the movies and not a training seminar . ..

I got to watch the 1968 Steve McQueen - Faye Dunaway - Paul Burke film when it showed in theaters in the 60's, then; at the dawn of the millenium, watched the 1999 Brosnan-Russo-Leary one and came out of the theater firmly believing that the original was much better in every sense. This week, thanks to the magic of streaming services I could watch both back to back. Contrary to popular wisdom there are remakes that are better than the originals and this is the proverbial sample button.

The plot is absolutely superior and direction does it justice; while the original, for its period might have been glamoruos and imaginative, it pakes pitifully on the comparison. The new script is much more agile, interesting and glamorous all around. Casting beats the old one hands down.

Acting: while McQueen and Dunaway might have been shining stars of their time, they feel stiff and cardboard nowadays. The personifications delivered by the 1999 cast are fluid and three-dimensional. Even with the age difference at the respective times of the films, Russo is way more stunning than Dunaway, who by the way does a credible analyst on the latter film. Burke did a poor performance compared to Leary's, who delivers a full and likable character.

In the glamour and high life section, there's simply no contest. Even the gliders are miles apart. The clothes of the characters are without comparison. Accessories, transports, dwellings... Brosnan exhudes money, McQueen... Hmm.

While the '68 file has a depressive ending the '99 version manages to squeeze-in a happy ending all around.

In sum, to really appreciate the '99 version, you need to watch the '68 one and transport yourself in time to the era. Then jump back ahead and compare.