Rating: 
Summary: Okay for suspense
Review: 2/26/04 For those of us who like knowing the plot and most of the possibilities of the ending ,so that we can just watch the "play" :Act by Act via "scene after scene" : the movie video" The Thomas Crown Affair" was not a disappointment...the fact that it's most "saleable scene": "a mini tour of the New York Art Museum" opened the plot (Dunaway's conversation with Bronsan during the opening credit preceded the tour)helped even more..however the movie is no "Maltese Falcon" or "War and Peace" ,so a rating of three is parallel to its merits.
Rating: 
Summary: "Think you'll get me?", "Oh, I hope so."
Review: The above succinctly could summarize the slick cat and mouse game that ensues between Catherine Banning and Thomas Crown in a stylishly, visually stunning remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. For those looking for a couple hours of pure escapism and enjoyment for adults over 30, this is it.As has already been said in many reviews, Pierce Brosnan assumes the role Steve McQueen made famous in 1968. It is quickly established that Crown is wealthy, handsome, powerful...and bored. So, with his sharp intellect, he sets about stealing a priceless painting -- just so he can feel the rush. Pierce Brosnan plays Crown as very dashing and low key...and it works here, especially because of the game. For him to show too much would be to tip his hand, so Crown keeps his pursuer, Catherine, on her toes as she both tries to pin the crime on him -- and avoid falling under a spell that she finds appealing in spite of herself which, in the end, makes it all the more fascinating to see her try to trip him up at various turns. As many others have noted, it is less cat and mouse than smart and smarter cat, and it is fascinating to watch them tangle -- physically, intellectually, and emotionally -- as the stakes seem to intensify in terms of job vs. romance. Rene Russo is wonderful as Catherine Banning. While Faye Dunaway's Vicky Anderson was considered strong for her time in the 1968 version, she still seemed too "mushy" in the end, too "heart on her sleeve". Catherine in the 1999 version, though, picked up where Vicky left off and yes, heresy to purists, I'm sure, improved on Vicky's strengths and toned down the other stuff. Catherine is strong, worldly, fiesty, and has a take no prisoners attitude that is occasionally (and subtley) allowed to be offset by vulnerability and softness. Overall, however, Catherine is, as Faye Dunaway's [Vicky in 1968's "TCA"] therapist character notes in the film, a mirror image of Thomas. And this allows for the complication of Catherine being drawn into Thomas, first as a suspect but ultimately as someone she is fascinated by and could all too easily love. I will not give away the ending...but I never knew the use of a simple bowler hat could be so clever, and use a painting with one as a nice inside joke. John McTiernan was a man who knew how to use cinematography to his film's advantage, and it shows. It is colorful, sharp, and slick...the perfect counterpart to the leads. Still, before I end this, I must give major props to Denis Leary. Before viewing this, all I knew him as was an acidic, tart comic with an edge. But as Detective Michael McCann, he goes toe to toe with Russo and succeeds brilliantly. McCann is also a jaded man, a New York City cop, but he also has a sense of intelligence just as the leads do, and he is genuinely likeable and downright droll. You can't help but root for him in spite of his target...and the fact that he seems to also have a tiny crush on Catherine makes this game even more "twisty", and the end result is somewhat bittersweet. Thankfully, this movie's romance is with two adults of the same generation and not some 40ish-year-old man going after a 20-something babe in tight clothes. The fact that it is sexy, slzzling, and even tender proves that chemistry does not have to die once your 30s are through! Russo and Brosnan sparkled! I highly recommend buying the DVD. This is a film you'll want to view more than once.
Rating:
Summary: Round, like a circle in a spiral
Review: This remake of the highly rated Steve McQueen/Faye Dunaway film is that rarest of all films, a remake that is as good if not better than the origninal. The plot centers on Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan), a Donald Trump like businessman who indulges in many exciting and expensive hobbies - racing catamarans, sail planes, golf (with huge side bets) and art theft. He sets up and pulls off an elaborate theft that sets the NYPD and insurance investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) on his trail. She quickly sees through his innocent bystander pose and focuses her attentions, both personal and professional, on Crown. Their affair escalates and vies with the action of the art theft/investigation for the viewers attention. The tension from both sides of the story continues until the last scene. The style of the film is reminiscent of the original, quick cuts, split screens, rapid pace driven by powerful background music. Brosnan quickly establishes the character of Crown as powerful, arrogant and wealthy with only a few words of incidental dialogue. Russo quickly establishes herself as his equal which changes the film from a slick heist film to a romance. The cinematography is breath takingly beautiful and is backed by a lush music score. The DVD includes both wide-screen and standard formats, English and French subtitles and dubbing, and trailers from both the '68 and '99 versions. There is also an audio commentary that brings even more to the film. This is definitely a DVD that is worth buying (as opposed to renting) it is one of those films that merits watching again and again, though it is not one for family watching as it is very definitely and deservedly an R rated film.
Rating:
Summary: Could use a better casting director
Review: This film has everything you want in an action movie and more. Unfortunately, the "more" comes in the form of Rene Russo, and more isn't always better. Brosnan is the perfect Crown in this remake of the '68 Steve McQueen film, however Rene Russo spends the etire film looking haggard and gives a poor personality to the character of Catherine Banning. It would have been nice to have this film done with Brosnan as Crown, and Faye Dunaway as Catherine. Russo comes off as annoying and hard to like, and I kept wanting to see her fail. I like Russo as an actress, I just didn't like her in this movie. It's an entertaining film to watch, but if you're looking to own it, go with the 1968 film instead. As fasr as the DVD is concerned, it comes with a director commentary, and it's nice to have the full screen and widescreen formats on one disc, but that's about it. No "making of" featurette, screen tests, interviews with the actors, or any of the other typical components of a good DVD these days.
Rating:
Summary: Weaker Characters, More Action, and Less Interest
Review: Once again, I am completely perplexed as to why they remade this film. On top of that, why did they decide to turn an intelligent "cat and mouse" movie into a mind-numbing action film? While I was amply entertained, I had to completely detach myself from the original in order to enjoy it. One scene of note, however, is the final heist scene-spectacular action and extremely entertaining. They have weakened the incredibly strong character that Steve McQueen created. In this remake, Thomas Crowne solicits the help of a psychiatrist (really just a ploy to pull Faye Dunaway into a cameo role) in order to help him sort out the troubles he has with Rene Russo. Steve McQueen needs no such crutch to get him through. In a similar manner, Russo is not nearly as compelling as Dunaway-her character is much more fragile and less complex than the original. I was very disappointed to see the wonderful characters from the original collapse at their knees and fall in the dust. As interesting as the action is, the lack of character interest is a definite turn-off. Do yourself a favor: see the original. And if you do watch this film, watch it before you see the original or you will be disappointed. That way, you can end on a high note.
Rating:
Summary: All My Women Friends LOVE this movie`
Review: What can I say... all of us approaching 40 and past just love seeing these super intelligent, sly, crafty, cut from the same cloth man and women cross wits and dares. The romance ...ahhhhh...really nice and sensual. Love the story line. Can't tell you how many of us watch this just abt every month. Elegant, hi-end living, beautiful people who are self made AND NOT 20 YEARS OLD!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Caper Sizzles While the Romance Fizzles
Review: This breezy remake of the 1968 original "Thomas Crown Affair" is a slick, enjoyable, and occassionally clever caper film. But the film suffers from several shortcomings that detract from it's initial promise. But it's mostly the film's wrong-headed romance that stops the action dead in its tracks. I've never seen the first "Thomas Crown Affair" so I have nothing on which to judge this film but on it's own merits. Where once stood Faye Dunaway and Steve Mcqueen, we now have Rene Russo as the sultry insurance investigator Catherine Banning and Pierce Brosnan as high-living billionaire Thomas Crown. Both actors are good in their respective roles, especially Russo who basically steals the show from Brosnan and everyone else around her coming off as both smashingly smart and sexy. Unfortunately Brosnan and Russo share no chemistry and generate no heat. This subsequently renders their romance sequences together, from passionate love-making in Crown's apartment to basking in the sun light of a sandy island beach, all the more uninteresting. But the problems don't stop there. Russo and Brosnan's characters also never seem really interested in each other in an emotional sense. Throughout the entire film I never felt Catherine Banning's interest in Crown stretched beyond revealing him as a crook. Her only purpose for sleeping with him or accompanying him to his island getaway always seemed to be just killing time. But that's not to say the movie is without it's bright spots of which it has plenty. The actual caper is a cleverly devised one, and whenever time isn't being wasted on romance the movie is often highly entertianing and genuinely interesting. Still, so much time is wasted with Crown and Catherine jetting around for recreation that the final twist isn't nearly as astonishing as it should have been, simply because we've lost track. All in all, "Thomas Crown Affair" is a glossily-textured, gorgeous-looking package. It's not a bad film by any means, and has alot of terrificly played sequences. There's a general lack of suspense and drama but it's still entertaining enough.
Rating:
Summary: Let's hear it for Adults!
Review: Pierce Brosnan, when asked about this film, expressed the same feelings as can be found around the world. Namely, he was tired of seeing the American cinema populated exclusive by teenagers. He wanted to make a sexy movie about adults for adults and in this he succeeded admirably. One gets the idea that all those involved really enjoyed making this film. This is a rarity - an almost perfect film, especially with the sexy Rene Russo acting her heart out. She is alternatively sexy, tempting, catty, sultry and tender - the dance scenes were some of the greatest (and hottest) ever shot. Brosnan is the perfect rich playboy, a Bruce Wayne with a wry sense of humor and a touch of whimsy who can bare his soul only to his therapist (great cameo by Faye Dunaway). Ironically the one woman to whom he is attracted is the one dedicated to his downfall. Denis Leary's gritty everyman cop persona is the perfect foil to Brosnan's urbane sophistication. The many plot twists and almost perfect surprises are a source of continual delight from start to finish. No big social message, no axe to grind - just the story of a rich thief and the investigator who fell for him.
Rating:
Summary: gotta love this movie
Review: Pierce Brosnan plays the sly "Thomas Crowne," rich business man in New York City and avid art lover. It is not until a famous painting worth a lot of money is stolen from Crowne's favorite art museum that things get interesting. Renee Ruso is brought in as an investigator for the insurance company in order to recover the painting.
This is not a mystery movie. The audience knows what is going on throughout most of the movie and there are very few "surprises." However, the character of Thomas Crowne is so cunning and sly that it is impossible not to love this movie. It is one of my personal favorites and I recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Amusing
Review: Pierce Brosnan was absolutely adorable in this movie. However, if I had been in charge of role casting, I would have had a more attractive female play the role of his love interest. I thought it was a great movie, with clever twists.
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