Rating: Summary: mildly entertaining - maybe a rental, not worth owning Review: I don't quite understand the rave reviews this film received. It certainly doesn't work as real drama (granted it's not intended as such), as the plot elements are far too ludicrous. Anyone with some knowledge of art and the art world will be in danger of losing their eyeballs in the back of their heads - from rolling them so much. And as escapist fantasy - the plot twists and gimmicks are rather predictable, and when they are not predictable it's only because of the astounding ludicrousness. Frankly, for escapist fun the unabashedly over-the-top Bond flicks are much better.Maybe good for a rental - I certainly don't recommend buying it.
Rating: Summary: So it's not high art, but... Review: ...still, quite an enjoyable picture, and definitely one of the best films to come out of Hollywood last year. And...here's the biggest shocker of all...it's among the rarest of breeds, a remake that is actually BETTER than its predecessor, and still respectful of said predecessor (see Faye Dunaway's well-placed cameo as Thomas Crown's psychiatrist as proof of this respect). Everything clicks in this film: the acting is first-rate, from Pierce Brosnan and the ever-hot Rene Russo on down to Denis Leary (who turns in perhaps the best performance of the film as a good cop - a definite break from his more typical roles). The music is also superb - Bill Conti, often maligned for his contributions to the Rocky series as well as the atypically disco-influenced Bond score in For Your Eyes Only, turns in an amazing set of compositions that go very well with what we see on screen. (Sadly, though, the soundtrack album leaves out many of these compositions...another story for another time). But perhaps the ultimate success of The Thomas Crown Affair can be attributed to John McTiernan, the genius behind Die Hard and The Hunt For Red October. McTiernan gives us a visually resplendent picture on all levels - the scenery, the quality of the picture, and the framing (if you'll forgive the pun) of certain scenes, especially the museum scenes where Thomas Crown both steals and puts back the priceless works of art - which makes The Thomas Crown Affair a particular pleasure to watch on DVD (this was one of my very first DVD acquisitions, and...at least among my burgeoning collection...it is far and away the DVD that takes best advantage of the new technology's enhanced capabilities). This is very enjoyable fare that is difficult not to enjoy, even with skeptics of Hollywood - namely myself - included...and it is most definitely light years better than the contemporaneous look-alike (but not made-alike) "Entrapment". Highly recommended!
Rating: Summary: VERY GOOD MOVIE! Review: THIS MOVIE HAS IT ALL ACTION,NUDITY,AND ECT.RENE RUSSO LOOKS VERY PRETTY.I CAN SEE WHY SHE DID THIS KIND OF MOVIE.FOR ONE SHE'S GETTING OLD,HER FACE IS BECOMING OLD AS WELL.IN THE MOVIE THEY SHOW A CLOSE UP AND IT GROSSED ME OUT TO SEE THE CRATERS IN HER FACE.BUT AT THE SAME TIME SHE LOOKED VERY FINE CAUSE ALL THE MAKE UP HIDES ALOT OF IT.SHE GETS NAKED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HER MOVIES.THIS OLD WOMEN STILL HAS A 20 YEAR OLD BODY AND SHE SHOULD STICK WITH THESE KINDS OF MOVIES IF SHE WASNTS TO MAKE IT IN THE MOVIE BUSINESS.PIERCE BROSMAN IS A VERY GOOD ACTOR THIS MOVIE CAN ALMOST BE BETTER THAN 007 BUT 007 HAS WAY MORE ACTION.THIS MOVIE IS LIKE "ENTRAPMENT" BUT BETTER.TAKE MY WORD FOR IT THIS MOVIE IS WORTH BUYING BELIVE ME AND TRUST ME.BUY IT NOW.
Rating: Summary: Very Enjoyable Film Review: Smart and sexy movie - A notch above the usual Hollywood Fare. A little more charachter development for Pierce Brosnan's lead charachter would have tied up a few loose ends though - Rene Russo is simply radiant - This DVD deserves special notice for the quality of the Video which is stunning. You will enjoy this movie on DVD!
Rating: Summary: Great! Great! Great! Review: I loved this movie! I've seen it like 5 times and I still like to watch it whenever I get the chance. Pierce Brosnan plays a suave debonair Thomas Crown perfectly. The looks, the charm, and the air of sophistication makes him the perfect person to bring the role of Thomas Crown back to life. Rene Russo is just plain beautiful in this movie. She plays Catherine Banning to the hilt and I never once doubted that she would get her mouse. This fantastic movie is one you will want to see over and over.
Rating: Summary: Cat And Mouse Review: Slick cat-and-mouse flick. Plenty of twists and turns will keep you guessing about who can be trusted right to the end. An entertaining movie.
Rating: Summary: Slick remake is a good film in it's own right Review: When I saw this film, I hadn't yet seen the original, so this review takes this film on its own merits. If you are interested in a comparison of the two, read my comment posted at the 1968 version. This was a slick, big money production that delivered. John McTiernan's direction was excellent, the photography rich, the locations magnificent and the opulent lifestyle nicely portrayed. In the story, a rich gazillionaire art collector, bored with the ease with which he makes his gazillions, decides to steal a Monet that he easily could have purchased if it were for sale. Hmmmmm. A little far fetched, but okay. The heist itself was the best part of the plot. The rest of the story after his nemesis love interest (Rene Russo) is introduced is pretty predictable stuff. The writers tried to throw in a couple of curves but I can't imagine anyone was fooled. Still, it was entertaining and there is a certain feeling of harmony when everything turns out about the way the viewer hopes and expects. Pierce Brosnan was the perfect choice for this role. It was a small transition from James Bond to Double O Seven Figures. He only had to lose the Walther PPK. He was born to play the oversexed, smarter than everyone else, high society loner. With him as the anchor, the film could not go too far wrong. I have mixed feelings about the selection of sex symbol wanna-be Rene Russo, who was looking a bit weather beaten in this film. Russo's (and McTiernan's) decision to bare all was a miscalculation. Rene's sexuality benefits when something is left to the imagination. On the other hand, she handled the emotional tight rope of the character superbly; cunning, smart, and torn between her ambition and her passion. If you could combine Russo's acting ability with Catherine Zeta-Jones' (who played essentially the same character in "Entrapment") looks you'd have the perfect actress for this role. Denis Leary, as the detective, was the biggest disappointment. Here is a guy who has perfected the art of being the insensitive tough guy, trying to play the role as Mr. Sensitive. He was either miscast or misguided in this endeavor. It fell flat as a canvas. All in all, a commendable film. I gave it an 8, and though it may not become a classic, you could do a lot worse.
Rating: Summary: Contrived nonsense Review: Here was an opportunity to excel over not only the original version of the movie but the book itself. This unfortunately did not happen. Instead of having a man of mystery with access to great wealth we have a supposedly very smart yet bored billionaire who decides to engineer a spectacular heist. Nothing is presented about him that supports his ability to carry off this heist other than the heist itself. However, he is presented in sight-bites that show a total disregard for the value of money. For an atagonist we get an equally over-bearing performance of a sharp, tough, sexy, self-aware, self-indulgent, (indulgence is key in this film) female insurance investigator. The police are portrayed as dim-witted, inept, powerless, even within their own precinct houses. The author of the theft is identified by the investigator and police early in the film. Then a dull and contrived attempt at 'who is smarter' is run through. The requesite nude scenes, typical of poor plot lines and weak stories, are presented, almost as often as any real activity that occurs in the film. Although films are a means of escape and that varying degrees of fantasy and departures from reality are expected, this one goes over the top. Brosnan was amusing as Remington Steele, but dull and wooden here. Denis Leary was surprisngly constrained, obviously to showcase the supposed stars of the film. If you can handle the clothes and language that is typical of period pieces, the original with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway provides better value.
Rating: Summary: Unrealistic and implausible Review: I went into this movie expecting to see a witty game of cat and mouse. Instead I saw an underdeveloped story line with scene after scene of unbelievable dialogue and preposturous characters. The story should have been much more interesting, but Rene Russo's character was so rediculous in her alternating between being a tough investigator and falling for Brosnan. Her character never developed enough to believe her inner struggles as she tries to come to terms with her duty and her desires. I really enjoy Dennis Leary's work, but here too he is not allowed to develop. He is a one-dimensional cop who stands on the sidelines as Russo runs the show. Rather than be thrilled with the excitement of the chase, the implausible storyline kept pulling me out of the setting of the movie, so much that by the end I was laughing at the movie, not with it.
Rating: Summary: Who's Chasing Who? Review: Man of mystique, Brosnan provides this movie with every bit of savoir faire that he brings to his Bond movies. Pierce Brosnan portrays a bored billionaire who, after stealing a priceless painting in broad daylight, provides chase to his would-be antagonist who's pursuing him. The power of seduction and role-reversals in this masterpiece of cat and mouse game was riveting--causing me to ask, "Who's chasing who?" This is a thinking man's movie. If you love finesse, power, brilliance and seduction, THIS MOVIE IS A "MUST SEE!"
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