Rating: 
Summary: Lighthearted Romantic Fun
Review: I have to admit, I am not one for romance films. This film has to be the exception. John McTiernan, usually known for high-octane action films such as "Predator" and "Die Hard," crafts a wonderful tale of romance surrounding an art gallery thief and the insurance specialist sent to retrieve his 'booty' (please pardon the horrible pun!). The two leads, Rene Russo (who just owns the entire movie) and Pierce Brosnan are magnetic and wonderfully likeable characters. Its refreshing to see two leads who are the same age as one another, as opposed to a liason between an older man and a woman half his age. This gives the film even more credibility and makes it more fun to watch. The movie also boasts a wonderfully original and jazzy score by McTiernan partner Bill Conti; and who better to sing the fantastic version of "Windmills Of Your Mind" than the great Sting. As noted in the Amazon.com review, the film is more a cat and smarter cat movie than the cliched cat and mouse flick. Russo and Brosnan try to outthink and outsmart one another at each turn, often with clever results. The film is highly enjoyable and is sure to be one that you will enter into the 'repeat viewing' category. It certainly doesn't hurt that Rene Russo just oozes sexuality out of every pore of her body - I never realized how gorgeous she was until I saw this film! Great film for date night, or for watching with that special someone. Fun capers, great plot, wonderful leads and a razor sharp script make this one of the best films of 1999, and certainly one of Hollywood's more enjoyable romances in a LONG time!! Give it a shot, it might just 'steal' your heart!
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent remake.
Review: Hard to do a remake of a Steve McQueen movie, but Brosnan makes it work. Watch out for some very unnecessary nudity though. I might have given it 4 stars, except that the director or the studio felt the need to show naked breasts. To bad. The script and acting would have stood on their own and I believe that nudity and foul langauge limit the potential audience.So 4 stars for adults and 2 stars for families makes a 3 star movie.
Rating:
Summary: flawed plot, great sets and cast
Review: This is not an exceptional adventure film, but it is a good film, carried out of oblivion by three terrific leads who all have great chemistry with each other -- Rene Russo, Pierce Brosnan and Dennis Leary -- and beautiful sets and costumes. This remake of the 1968 Steve McQueen-Faye Dunaway vehicle is actually better than the original, and features Dunaway in a recurring cameo as Crown's therapist, but a heist film is still just a heist film -- relying on its plot and cast. In this movie, the plot is sloppy but everything else is fine. DVD extras are sparse but effective -- commentary by director John McTiernan, and trailers for both the 1968 and the 1999 films. The film can be heard in English or French with English or French subtitles.
Rating: 
Summary: Crown Keeps Crowds Enticed
Review: Brilliant schemes, mind-boggling crimes, and outwitting thieves -- these all describe the latest craze in movies classified as "smart criminal" movies. The Thomas Crown Affair is by far one of the best emerging in the past decade.
Based in Chicago, the movie focuses around Thomas Crown (Pierce Brossnan), a rich and well respected businessman, who in his free time, is seen around a popular art museum. When a hundred million dollar painting is stolen from the museum, nobody suspects it is Crown except for insurance agent Catherine Banning (Reneé Russo). After Banning flatly tells Crown that he is a suspect, the viewer goes for a wild ride as Crown tries to persuade Banning that he didn't take it. Banning and a team of undercover officers storm Crown's house in an attempt to find the painting but come up empty.
What happened to the painting? Did Crown take it after all? Sparks fly between the Banning and Crown and viewers see just how romantic and wealthy Crown is. The ending of the movie is a scene to be remembered. The Thomas Crown Affair is a must see if the viewer enjoys the "smart criminal" genre of movies. Its excellent plot and filmography makes it enjoyable for all PG-13 viewers.
Rating:
Summary: The Rene Russo Affair
Review: I so expected to be disappointed by this remake of Norman Jewison's jazzy, quintessentially 60's caper film. And boy, was I "disappointed"! The Rene Russo, er Thomas Crown Affair, is AS GOOD as the original. The original has rebellious Steve McQueen, playing a role few people would have believed he could handle -- that of cool-as-a-cucumber, Harvard-trained financier, "Tommy Crown." (To Pierce Brosnan: I knew Steve McQueen, he was a friend of mine, and Mr. Brosnan, you're no Steve McQueen!) The original has Faye Dunaway as "Vicky Anderson." (Going in, I was tempted to say to Rene Russo, I know Faye Dunaway, ... but we'll get to that.) The original has that jazzy, split-screen look (Haskell Wexler's cinematography), simultaneously showing three scenes. It has great caper scenes. It has the dune buggy scene with McQueen and Dunaway. It has "the longest kiss" in screen history. (In those prehistoric days, gifted performers were able to put over smoldering love scenes without taking off their clothes!) Not to mention Michel Legrand's score, and the Oscar-winning theme song, "Windmills of Your Mind," that Legrand composed with his frequent collaborators, lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman. And it has Norman Jewison's (The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming; In The Heat of the Night; Moonstruck; The Hurricane, etc.) very able hands holding it all together. (I wonder if the reviewer who dismissed the original as "languid," ever saw it.) The remake, meanwhile, is dragged down by its nominal star. Watching Brosnan and Russo work together, I feel like I'm watching a wonderful fighter (Russo) in a fixed fight, who literally has to hold up an inferior opponent (Brosnan) for 15 rounds (title bouts used to last that long), before letting him knock him out. I'm not saying Brosnan is a "tomato can" (boxing lingo for a human punching bag); he has a couple of moves, especially in the caper scenes, but he is nevertheless a lightweight who doesn't belong in the same ring with Russo. Well, you know what? This version, which was transplanted from Boston to New York, and changed from a bank heist to a museum job, ain't exactly chopped liver, either. Director John McTiernan is a veteran of Bruce Wilis, Arnorld Schwarzenegger, and Tom Clancy flicks. He knows how to pace a summer movie, and is as good as they come at framing an action scene. The pleasant surprise is how well he handles the little things, the scenes where "nothing is happening." For McTiernan's soft touch, together with Russo, make this remake a pleasure worth repeated viewings. The story: Bored billionaire Thomas Crown decides to put some spice in his life by stealing a zillion-dollar painting from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Catherine Banning is the world-class insurance investigator whose mission it is to recover the painting. Det. Michael McCann (Denis Leary) is the local boy, an outer-borough, working-class hero, whose job it is to put Crown away. I'm not giving anything away here. The trick is, that Catherine Banning starts falling for Thomas Crown, and has to decide whether he's really fallen for her, too, or if he's just using her to get away with the caper. And then there's Mike McCann's problem. He likes Crown, and eventually, he falls for Banning, too. In one respect, this movie is like Terms of Endearment. If you don't fall in love with, or strongly identify with Debra Winger's "Emma," you won't love Terms. For Russo/Crown to work, you have to fall for, or identify with Russo's "Catherine Banning." I fell. Hard. The camera loves Rene Russo. Not that she's beautiful ... anymore, that is. Being beautiful isn't enough to fill the camera, anyway. Very few actresses today can consistently fill the movie screen, and all of them are named Meryl Streep. (TV is different. As much as I love TV, many performers who can fill the small screen are dwarfed by the big one -- think, David Caruso, the original star of NYPD Blue.) In two of Russo's best scenes, the camera tightly frames her beaten countenance, as she says little or nothing. That she wasn't nominated for best actress was an outrage. It is exceedingly rare to see one performer (think: Gene Hackman, Tom Hanks or Denzel Washington) carry a movie the way she does here. I can repeat the rationalizations for overlooking Russo in my sleep: 'It's a summer movie'; 'It' s a caper flick," etc. As for Russo's much-heralded nude scene, it is gratuitous, and does her no favors. She's obviously past her prime. I was embarrassed for her, and gladdened recently to hear her announce that she will no longer do any nude scenes. But I haven't exhausted the pleasures of this film. Director John McTiernan has come a long way since Die Hard, and he and his screenwriters, Leslie Dixon and Kurt Wimmer, deliver the goods -- split-second timing, devilish cleverness, and a quirky sense of humor -- that only the best caper flicks provide. And then there's that something extra that elevates it -- the movie within the movie. Released in 1999, this film is set in present-day New York. And yet, the most successful caper of the flick may be the parallel time game it plays. It's set in 1999 AND somewhere around 1964. But don't take my word for it. Look at Denis Leary's suits. They're awfully close to what Paul Burke, then the biggest star in TV, used to wear playing a detective in the first great, New York City-based cop show, The Naked City, from 1960-63. But Leary's Det. McCann is nothing like the gruff character played by the middle-aged, suddenly paunchy Paul Burke in the original Affair. This lanky lawman is no jelly doughnut, yet once you get past the tough facade, he has an outer-borough (non-Manhattan), working-class sweetness, poignance, and yes, gallantry, to him that makes me mourn a city that is no longer. There is no room for this character in the City of 1999. I know; I live there. And if you want to see screen chemistry, watch closely whenever Russo and Leary are alone together. Now, HE's a contender! Faye Dunaway pops up in a cameo role as Crown's psychiatrist. As it is unnecessary to propel the story along, a scriptwriting seminar guru would frown on her appearance, which is but one of the luxuries in a great caper movie that refuses to slavishly follow formulas.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies of 1999.
Review: Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo make a wonderful couple in this movie that it's actually the new version of the Steve Macqueen's version from 1968.
This story is about a billionaire (Brosnan) who steals a Monet from the Metropolitan Museum in New York and a woman who works for an inssurance company (Russo) has to recover the painting.
In the beginning it all starts as business but the can't hide their attraction.
Their performances are very good. This movie is thrilling and funny. A very good one.
Rating:
Summary: I want to be Her!
Review: This is the first movie EVER where I actually wanted to be in the shoes of one of the character's. Rene Russo is so cool in this movie. Ane Pierce...yum. It's action, romance with a touch of humor. And it's so smartly done. Watch it!
Rating:
Summary: A genuinely fun movie!
Review: What a fun movie, and a brilliantly produced DVD. I've had this as part of my collection for some time now, and love to pull it out when I'm in the mood for a thrilling game of cat and mouse. Brosnan and Russo are perfectly cast in this remake of the McQueen classic. Departing from his customary Bond-esque delivery, Brosnan makes you believe in his world of high-finance (and high art). Russo plays the insurance investigator/bounty hunter with a certain deliciousness for the chase that lesser actors would not be able to pull off. Dennis Leary was a pleasant surprise in his supporting role as the detective working with Russo to bring in Brosnan. His dry wit and "been there, done that" delivery puts the film into a believeable reality. Although not as feature driven as some DVDs, this version does come with a fascinating commentary track from the director, John McTiernan. If you a film buff, or just have a general curiosity regarding how movies are created, listen in to his discussion. I found it a wonderful compliment to the film.
Rating:
Summary: An Intriguing Game of Cat and Mouse
Review: "Create a diversion over here so over there you can steal a hundred million off the wall and waltz right out the front door. Oh, that's good!" And the movie is VERY good, an intriguing game of cat and mouse that will have you on the edge of your seat. Pierce Brosnan hangs up his license to kill in favor of finances and adventure as Thomas Crown, a multi-millionaire who decides to steal a priceless Monet in broad daylight for the thrill of it. Enter Catherine Banning (Rene Russo), the insurance investigator hired to recover the painting. Banning tracks the Monet down to Crown, but the NYPD is hesitant to investigate -- he is one of the museum's patrons, not to mention his political connections. Without a motive, Catherine is left on her own to try to "get the man who has everything". It doesn't end there, though. Against conventional wisdom, Banning and Crown fall for each other knowing that they are playing with fire - and the enemy. The deeper they become involved with each other, the tighter the game gets. And when a forgery is found in Crown's flat, things get REAL interesting as Catherine is torn between her duty as an investigator and her feelings for the quiet thrill seeker. Featuring many great action shots, including the grand finale of returning the Monet, this movie will have you riveted to your seat as Brosnan and Russo battle wills and each other in the "Affair to remember".
Rating:
Summary: Live the "High Life"
Review: In a film quite reminiscing of the his James Bond adventures, Pierce Brosnan is back as both co-producer and starring role as Thomas Crown, a leader magnate in mergers and acquisitions of the modern day New York. Just because he “likes it” he happens to collect priceless works of art… illegally. Enter super-sexy, beautifully chic and extra smart
Rene Russo, as the woman who will “get him”, in more ways than one. “The Thomas Crown affair” is a re-make of the film of the same name that Steve McQueen starred in during the sixties. Not having seen that version, I have to admit this one in particular has all the style, glamour and cache of the high life everybody wants to follow but, sadly, not everybody gets. Pierce Brosnan is not a versatile actor, but roles like this, where he can display his slender persona and gallant ways, suit him as a tailored grey flannel ensemble done by the most excellent fashion expert. Speaking of fashion, his counterpart, Rene Russo, surprises and enchants in her Celine wardrobe and Bvlgari jewels. Russo certainly shows off as beautiful as ever and with all the quick wit and classy manners of a female James Bond. No expense in this movie was spared, the rides in Crown’s Jaguar, dinner at Ciprianni’s (with no previous reservation), weekend away in the privacy of one’s own villa in Martinique, windsurfing and more. We all know that the first purpose of the entertainment industry is, precisely, to entertain. What better to do that, than to slip “The Thomas Crown affair” into your VHS or DVD player and relax with a good glass of wine.
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