The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) User Reviews

A '90s version of a '60s classic

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 30 December 2019]

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.

A classy piece of work

[Old Crow-2 · 8/10 · 9 January 2004]

Forget all the explosions, car chases, crazy villains, special effects... The Thomas Crown Affair is not an action movie. It´s not even a thriller. Instead, it´s a well-done cat-and-mouse movie that´s smart, entertaining and very sexy. If you had to use one word to describe the film it would have to be sophisticated. The movie might appeal more to mature audiences as both the leading man and the leading lady are over 40 years old. Pierce Brosnan can obviously do other roles beside James Bond, but the role of Thomas Crown is at least somewhat similar to 007. Both guys "enjoy women" and are very suave. Overall, Brosnan gives a solid performance and is overshadowed only by Rene Russo who simply oozes sexuality and class. She is simply perfect in her role and though she´s twice as old as I am I find her a real knockout. Not only is she extremely hot, but also a very talented and charismatic actress. A perfect combination! The classy dance scene between Brosnan and Russo belongs to the most sexually-charged scenes in history and the following love-making scene manages to be both sexy and stylish. Usually nude scenes in Hollywood movies seem somehow "uneasy", but in this movie the scene is done in real style and with sensual music the atmosphere is sizzling. Who would want a disposable bimbo like Britney Spears when you could have a real class-act woman like Rene Russo? I would also like to mention Bill Conti whose simple yet refined music is simply outstanding. Just listen to the music during the scene in which Crown and Banning go glider flying... You can just close your eyes and listen to this wonderful music. Now I have to find the soundtrack for this film! I guess I should mention that I´ve never seen the original Thomas Crown, but now I don´t even have to bother as its updated version is a true pleasure to watch. I have nothing negative to say about it so just go get this film on DVD and enjoy!

Emotional Chess . . . updated

[cubsinengland · 8/10 · 26 August 2007]

Firstly, it's not a cookie-cutter remake of the original staring Mr. McQueen and Ms. Dunaway - so no comparison required.

You might say Brosnan was typecast by Bond, and the idea of a suave player getting one over on yet another woman might be the obvious outcome, but not this time! Instead we're treated to a sophisticated game of cops and robbers, played out in this stylish and seductive entertainment. Mr. Brosnan (Thomas) is at the top of his game and may be involved in something illegal. Ms. Russo (Catherine) is called in to investigate, claiming an office and sharing confidences with the local police department looking for clues. Catherine epitomises sophistication with hair, makeup and fashions styled to perfection. She's an understatement of success; a woman playing a man's game, bounty-hunting life and sex on her own terms and 'enjoying the chase'.

Once Catherine is on the trail of Thomas Crown you'll join her in a hedonistic game of one-upmanship. She's done this kind of work before and must stay on her toes if she's going to implicate the wealthy Thomas Crown. The local cops and cultured community believe Mr. Crown to be beyond reproach; an untouchable pillar of wealth and good taste.

These two characters exist in their luxurious world through strange circumstance and have made it their own through hard work and some bluffing. The movie provides glimpses into their lifestyles, and at the same time, keeps them both just outside what you'd expect from a wealthy businessman and a woman working for an insurance company.

Supporting character Mr. Leary makes a cynical, yet caring detective attempting to save face by nabbing Thomas Crown - however it's quite obvious in a city the size of New York that a bored millionaire looking for thrills by staging a theft is not his priority. Mr. Leary is guilty of a bit of cussing and jaded police behaviour, but ya 'gotta hope he's still on the force.

The story races from one clue to the next, and we glimpse a world where time means nothing, and money is just, well, not an issue. The film really sets the tone for the lush life with ultra-posh, elegant sets, millionaire-hobbies and exotic locations. The soundtrack is perfect, giving the entire movie an upmarket, worldly feel that befits a modern romance.

This is really a love story for anyone who imagines being whisked away from the mundane into places that you've only read or heard about in glossy magazines. It's a film for any person out there who'd like to have the freedom to do what they want and damn the consequences. Well, either that or have enough money to do anything, then disappear.

There is some hot on-screen chemistry between Thomas and Catherine, making the love scenes, coupled with the sexy music and breathtaking backgrounds, erotic. They have a healthy appetite for each other so the love scenes in his apartment and 'island retreat' are the 'stuff that dreams are made of.'

Yes, there are little snafus, such as a painting being folded in a manner that would permanently ruin it, and the usual gaffes that serious film-goers will pick over - but heck, it's just a movie and a love story - let yourself go and imagine you're a woman who's just crashed a black tie event in a dress making every man in the room salivate, or that you're the man she's heading for on the dance floor - then have fun with it . . .

In the end, for all their cunning, Thomas and Catherine must decide if they can trust each other, just like most men and women must do in any love story. What you may find hard to decide though, is who to root for, and who really wins the game of cat and mouse at the end of this movie.

Original reworked right.

[jaywolfenstien · 23 June 2003]

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 . ..

Better Than The Original

[mlyttle77 · 7/10 · 11 August 2023]

This remake in every way tops the original which you seldom see in a remake. Though Steve McQueen was considered the King Of Cool, Pierce Brosnan played Crown with all the debonair and confidence required of the character without going to far.

Rene Russo was a perfect fit. Her sex appeal surpasses that of Faye Dunaway in the original but in Dunaway's defense, the censors of her day would not have allowed what Russo got away with and McQueen was against nudity in movies. It goes without saying though that Russo and Prosnan had great chemistry.

The pacing was perfect, the music much better than the original, and the ending was totally unexpected. As a minor spoiler, I like how they don't reveal how he stole the other painting. There's a lot to like about this movie.

A very good film, but a very average remake

[Number siX · 6/10 · 25 March 2000]

Well, what can I say after watching this film, being a fan of the original. To begin with, I enjoyed it as it was almost a 90's play by play remake, and I am always pleased to see how a 60's or 70's classic would have looked 20 something years later. The early scenes in the film were very close to the original, with the business deal going through, and then Crown going to observe the heist; although participating this time around, and so, with what I saw I saw a hell of a lot of promise to shine up to the original. The heist seems in both are superbly conceived and very well filmed, with just the right amount of tension about the problems arising. Good stuff.

Enter Russo, dressed as a total Dunaway clone (Remember the headscarf?) and with some scenes of total over acting which could have worked well but on the whole didn't. Where Russo seems to let go and enjoy herself is a slip mistake that the character would never have done; Dunaway ALWAYS kept her cool in the original.

Enter the cat and mouse thriller element of the film. I have seen a few reviews here that say that this dragged the film along, slowing it down considerably. However, this film, in both versions, is not about a robbery, it is about the chase. The point of the film is the exchanges between the two protagonists, each trying to catch the other out; and this is the brilliance of the film, because it isn't a visual action plot with little in it that so many films are today. This makes you watch, this makes you observe and it makes you think.

Moving on to the character of Crown by Brosnan. Some people have said that Brosnan was hollow and one dimensional, with no background to his motivation to the robbery. This is EXACTLY the point and this is why the ending of the 1999 version does NOT work. Thomas Crown only has two things that he cares about: Greed and acquisition. The scene in both versions with the business deal at the beginning is the evidence at this, with the corporate suits joking about "Thomas Crown actually selling something" then we find out that he only sold it because, unknown to them, they were offering 30 million more than anyone else. All Crown cares about is possessing as much as he can, this is why he has been alone all this time. And, with this being the point of the character, that is why the ending of the film is so disappointing and unbelievable compared to the original. Crown desired to own the painting and he would not have given this up for the love of a woman, because, although it is obvious he wants a woman to love him, he cannot love women, because he can only love what he owns, and he wants to own everything. The original version, with McQueen deceiving Dunaway, after she betrayed him and then leaving her on the plane is a much more convincing ending.

Another unconvincing aspect is the comparison between the McQueen/Dunaway and Brosnan/Russo relationships. Firstly, the dance scene comes nowhere near comparison to the chess scene of the original; and the dance scene is very poorly filmed as well. The chess scene showed both characters attempts at dominance over each other, their lust to win over each other, and they sexual tension between them as they play with the chess pieces, slowly and seductively. The dance scene is a quick montage of unclear movement with the only piece of sexual tension being Brosnan laying his hands on Russo. All the dominance that Dunaway had in the original was disposed of and Russo caved into to sleeping with Crown very easily. Then, there is the Brosnan/Russo sex scene; which in my opinion was HIGHLY unnecessary. McQueen and Dunaway never needed to do a nude scene together, as the sexual tension between the two was so obvious that it could be cut with a bread knife. However, Brosnan and Russo do not have that touch, the spark was nowhere near as big, and the inclusion of a nude scene still does not bring it anywhere near the status of attraction that the original couple had.

This film could have been a classic remake if it didn't try to be so politically correct. The only reason why the remake switched from a bank heist to art theft is because, in today's world, armed robbery cannot be presented as an elegant theft. This is ridiculous, as the reason that the original's heist was so smooth was because of the planning, timing and element of no one of the criminals meeting until midway through the heist; all goes on while McQueen watches from across the road. Where was the planning and recruitment in this remake? Oh yes, Russo mentioned it so quickly, it would have been dismissed faster than one of Brosnan's butler's lines. And the idea of a happy ending, with both of the characters, now definitely lovers, flying off into the sunset with plans for happiness together. Garbage. These two characters are selfish and greedy because they only look at for number one in a dog eats dog world. McQueen's Crown saw this, knowing to drop Dunaway or go to jail; and this PC happy ending is just not compatible with this film; as with a cat and mouse thriller, someone has to lose.

Nice remake in which a wealthy art thief enjoys a cat-and-mouse game with an astute insurance investigator

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 29 August 2022]

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 .

It's all about lust and luxury!!

[kagey-28769 · 9/10 · 1 June 2019]

I don't think you should compare the two versions, they're so very different. . I think this is great heist movie The thing that makes this movie stand out is the look the rich colours in the way it's filmed and it just oozes excess. The leads have a great time working together. Everything for me just worked and made even better with the fantastic score that adds pace when needed

31 years of moviemaking evolution

[I_should_be_reading_a_book · 7/10 · 21 October 2020]

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.

"Thomas" is the "Crown" Jewel for your collection... SEE IT!

[koconnor-1 · 9/10 · 4 May 2001]

This DVD was an impulse buy, pure and simple. My wife and I like Pierce Brosnan, and I have enjoyed Renee Russo's other works, so what did I have to lose? Only my mind! This film was positively one of the most enjoyable, nail-biting, suspenseful romantic capers ever made.

A remake of the steamy 1968 Steve McQueen flick updated to the sleek and self-referential 90s, "Thomas Crown" features Brosnan as the title character - a bored billionaire businessman in the business of "acquisitions". For a thrill, he heists an extremely valuable Monet from the New York Museum right under the noses of security guards, cops, and about a thousand unsuspecting museum-goers. Renee Russo is the very sexy, very worldly Catherine Banning, whose insurance company underwrites the painting - and she is determined to get it back at any cost... But the cost just may be her soul as she woos, and then falls under the spell of the enigmatic Crown. Will Russo discover the location of the Monet? Will she rat out Thomas Crown? Or is Crown manipulating her affections like Bobby Fisher manipulates the pieces on a chess board?

What we have here is a high-speed chase film whose vehicle is clever dialog, rich and exotic direction, and more than a little sexual tension! Brosnan, as Crown, is ever the cool Brit charmer whose every word and action are as calculated as the movements of a Rolex. Russo smoulders every time she appears on screen. And when the two of them get together, the chemical reaction is pure dynamite.

Dennis Leary has a nice bit as a streetwise NYPD detective on the case, who dispenses advice to Russo's Banning, and watches her begin to spiral out of control. His role here most likely resulted in the deserved attempt at a television series on ABC ("The Job").

The action in the film moves exotically from caper to cover-up and back with dizzying speed... All the while, we are kept guessing about the motivations of the two lead, and find ourselves eagerly anticipating their next move. When the final checkmate comes, we are left totally bewildered, befuddled, and baffled... which is most-likely the director's intention!

On all levels, "The Thomas Crown Affair" will steal the hearts of men and women alike... but for different reasons - Men can enjoy the action and thrill of the chase, and Crown's ability to win over the most beautiful women and his attempt to get away with the ultimate heist... Ladies can marvel at the suave Brosnan and his life of extreme wealth, and all-the-while wonder if he will betray her, or if she will betray him...

I will not betray you... I ain't saying!

One of those movies you just got to watch, again and again

[armand_ar · 10/10 · 24 July 2007]

I caught it on HBO and realized what an entertaining movie this is and regretted not watching it on the big screen.

Pierce and Rene owned the movie and their superb acting holds the story together. It is not about the heist nor the painting, though the soundtrack was excellent. It's about love between 2 person who refused to believe that they are capable of being loved.

Never a fan of Pierce but this movie certainly cemented his status as an actor. None of his James Bond movie came close to delivering such a superb performance. You can always count on Rene to deliver her best in any movie.

You can say I am inlove with this movie and yes you are right indeed. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys watching movie for what it is and not trying to show off your intelligence by disecting the movie.

Simply, one of the best!

Plot holes aplenty, but entertaining

[billsoccer · 7/10 · 12 October 2020]

Preposterous plot, but great views of Martinique and Renee Russo! Suspend your disbelief and just enjoy

Half a good movie

[preppy-2 · 5/10 · 24 August 1999]

This remake of the 1968 film is, during its first half, better than the original. It moves quickly, is well-directed and Brosnan and especially Russo are great. Cool sex scenes too. But halfway through Brosnan takes Russo to his island getaway (and I'm not giving anything away--it's in the coming attractions), and the movie falls apart. It still LOOKS good, but the story gets repititous, confusing, needlessly convoluted and downright boring. There's one good twist near the end but the very end is very insulting to the audience. The only thing that kept me watching during the second half is the excellent direction, great music score and (again) Brosnan and Russo. These two put to shame McQueen and Dunaway from the original (nice touch to have Dunaway play Crown's psychiatrist). Team them up together, hopefully with a better script.

Slick, glossy and cool – just don't expect it to be a piece of art (sorry!)

[bob the moo · 21 February 2003]

Businessman and billionaire Thomas Crown has everything he wants – money is nothing to him. One side part of his life is stealing valuable works of art. In an elaborate set-up, Crown manages to steal a painting from a New York gallery without detection. However insurance investigator Catherine Banning suspects him and pursues him. Crown falls for her, realising the fun he can have with a worthy adversary. However as their relationship becomes more serious, Catherine also begins to close the web on Crown – but which way will she go with him?

I ignored this in the cinema due to fairly average reviews and likewise video didn't entice me. However free on terrestrial – yeah, I'll take that! So I settled down to something that immediately set itself out to be fresh, slick and light with a jazzy credit sequence and a glossy (without being OTT) little robbery sequence. So far so good. The middle section is not quite all it could have been but it is still good. It does get a little heavy and slows the film down and the romance between the two leads doesn't quite wash at every turn, but they toy with each other well enough to keep the interest.

The climax is pretty cool and clever and it is refreshing that the film never falls into big action set pieces to win over the audience – instead keeping it glossy and slick throughout. It is quite something to find a thriller of sorts that is for grown ups and not teenage boys who NEED something to blow up every so often. The plot here is robust enough to meet the film's needs but is a little too slick to be examined too closely. But take this as what it is – slick adult popcorn seller – and you'll enjoy it. It is breezy and enjoyable.

As Crown, Brosnan exudes charm and smoothness but also is able to put an edge on it to show that Crown is not happy even when he has the world. Russo gives a better performance than I've come to expect from her but is still a little out of place in the film. She isn't totally convincing and I became annoyed by the regular appearance of her tits in the film – did it really help the film I wondered? Maybe once it was natural in the scene but the rest just seems like a cry for an audience. Leary does sterling work as Det McCann, although he isn't funny he is a strong serious actor and carries the role well. The support cast are all pretty good and Dunaway's cameo adds to the slick feeling rather than standing out awkwardly.

Overall this film will please you if you know what to expect. If you want something wonderful or meaningful then this will let you down. However, if you're ready for a slick, glossy bit of entertainment that will engage without challenging then this should be more than enough to pass a wet Saturday afternoon.

Fun and intelligent

[maccas-56367 · 7/10 · 12 November 2021]

This was easy to watch. Brosnan and Russo had good chemistry and this was a lot steamier than I anticipated.

The soundtrack was the main downfall. It was jarring at times. The film had swagger but the soundtrack didn't always fit what was happening onscreen.

There was a lot here that was fun and intelligent. It certainly felt like a product of the 90s. One of those films not to take all too seriously, but guaranteed to entertain nonetheless.

It wasn't amazing, but it did the job. I enjoyed the New York locations and it made me want to peruse art galleries.

The Thomas Crown Affair — Stealing high stake loot for fun, then seducing your opponent

[AvidClimber · 7/10 · 1 March 2013]

The Thomas Crown Affair is an impossibly rich man stealing an extremely valuable painting with an elaborate scheme. It's your typical gentleman heist story, but with a sexy hard ass insurance investigator romance, and a sensible slightly overreacting cop. It's fun, exciting, surprising, and peppered with action.

Good acting, especially on the part of Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo, and Denis Leary. Rich settings, interesting dialogs, captivating story, and nice stimulating score.

There's a few small logical flaws in the scenario, but they are easily overlooked.

It's good entertainment, watch it.

Worth a Look

[Falcon-51 · 7/10 · 8 March 2000]

Without having seen the original version with Steve McQueen, I cannot give an opinion to which I like best. I did however enjoy this Pierce Brosnan remake. At the time of this writing the votes on this site between the two movies were only separated by a tenth of a point. It has mediocre to poor acting, but it is still quite entertaining. As a bit of trivia Faye Dunaway played Thomas Crown's shrink in this film. She also played the investigator in the earlier version, however the name of her character (Vicki Anderson) is different than the name of the investigator played by Renee Russo (Catherine Banning) in this updated version.

The story is about a rich thief named Thomas Crown (Brosnan)who steals a 100 million painting by Claude Monet, but to what end. Catherine Banning (Russo) is the investigator working for the insurance company to recover the artwork. The story has some nice twists and turns. I would recommend taking a look at it. However if you have young children you may want to see the film after lights out, because of the nude/love scenes performed by Renee Russo and Pierce Brosnan.

My most favorite smart, sophisticated and sexy movie!

[ursuladuke · 10/10 · 10 November 2020]

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!

Solid, adult fun

[davidmvining · 7/10 · 25 May 2020]

This movie is at its most entertaining when people are stealing things, art in particular. It's the story of a rich man who's always in search of thrills and decides to steal one of the most valuable pieces of art on display at the Met. He's fabulously wealthy and doesn't need the money, but we could believe that he wants to keep it hidden behind a print of The Son of Man by Rene Magritte just as a private joke. The only problem with the film is when it asks us to emotionally involve ourselves in the lives of these people. They're too cynical and detached from real life for that sort of investment.

The movie fires on all cylinders at the start and the end when we watch the two heists. The first gets laid out in exact detail with Thomas Crown, rich financier, going about his day making big deals and stopping by the Met to look at "his haystacks" by Van Gogh, a team of thieves sneaking into the Met through a hollow horse statue, getting into the room with the Monet, "San Giorgio Maggiore at dusk", setting off all the alarms and giving Crown a way to quickly move in, grab the Monet off the wall, and throw it into his briefcase before simply walking out. Combined with the witty and fun score by Bill Conti, this first twenty minutes of The Thomas Crown Affair is the movie at it's most effortless and fun.

That's not really to say that the rest isn't fun, it's just different. In comes Rene Russo's Catherine Banning, an insurance investigator who is out to save some Swiss men a one hundred million dollar check. She quickly zeroes in on Crown, and while she doesn't have the kind of hard evidence that would allow Michael McGann, Denis Leary's police detective, to actually do anything, she isn't limited by warrants. She just needs to recover the painting, and in by being matched with Crown, the two have found the perfect match for each other.

They're both thrill seekers and both know exactly what the other is about. She knows that he stole the painting, and he knows that she's out to find the painting. He keeps her close because of the excitement and she reveals herself for the same reason. What follows is a game of cat and mouse that I felt was never about genuine emotion. It was always about using the other person to get what the other wanted, and when, late in the film, we see that Catherine had developed real feelings for Thomas, I didn't really buy it. I suppose it was the depth of feeling implied by the sudden weepy turn by Russo, but it just didn't feel like it fit the film. The Thomas Crown Affair isn't about deep emotion, but thin fun.

The movie ends with its second heist, the effort to put the Monet back, and the manner in which it plays out is fun, calling back to the film's opening, with a wonderful, if a bit outside the realm of believable, resolution. And, of course, the deep emotions get paid off through another couple of twisty turns.

I think if the film had managed to keep its eye on the fun angle more closely without falling into an emotional pit it didn't really earn, this could have been a more clear-cut thin romp at the movies. Brosnan and Russo are fun as the leads. Leary is understated and effective as the police detective who's sometimes a step behind on the plot but always clear-eyed when it comes to Catherine. Bill Conti's music is delectably amusing, and John McTiernan's direction is assured and confident. It's a solid time at the movies.

They Have Us Rooting For The Crooks Again!

[ccthemovieman-1 · 7/10 · 28 August 2006]

I found this to be a pretty solid re-make of the Steve McQueen-Faye Dunaway film of the early '70s. Actually, a lot of people thought this version was a lot more interesting and entertaining.

This '99 re-make was more of a thinking man's crime movie that one normally sees these days in which violence and profanity are way overdone so many times. However, this movie is far from family entertainment with amoral lead actors including Rene Russo baring her breasts a few times and Pierce Brosnan having sex with her at first opportunity.

Speaking of morals, one gets tired of the film world constantly making the criminals the good guy and the police as someone to root against. That mentality is so Liberal it's sickening and those messages abound in this story. Neither of the two leads has an ounce of integrity....but we are manipulated into rooting for them.

For nostalgia buffs, the let Dunaway play a small role in here, as the annoying psychiatrist.

I really liked this film the first two times I saw but was totally turned off at the third viewing. Maybe my conscience was slow to kick in, as this movie is clever story- wise but sick message-wise.

Great Movie - Much Better Than The Original!

[bloomstr · 10/10 · 21 January 2001]

It was wonderful - much better than the "original" The characters were more interesting, the plot more interesting!

The entire cast gives marvellous performances, Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan are wonderful, sexy, intelligent and never boring!

I am tired of hearing about Rene's age being a factor, there are sexy talented women of all ages! Her performance is what thrilled me - she gives a multifaceted performance. And its interesting that most of the critical people of her on this site are male. I guess they can't handle a strong- yet vulnerable, intelligent woman.

Kudos to Pierce Brosnan for selecting a woman lead who is not only his contemporary but equal in intelligence and moxy!!

Brosnan & Russo Burn Up the Screen !

[whpratt1 · 7/10 · 9 December 2003]

This film version of the "Thomas Crown Affair" was full of romance, passion and lots of guessing games. Pierce Brosnan,(Thomas Crown),"Grey Owl",'99 had lots of fun playing fantastic games with Rene Russo (Catherine Olds Banning), "In The Line of Fire",'93. Thomas Crown fell madly in love with Catherine, but kept her guessing and she did a lot of teasing for awhile and then the two of them burned up with passion and great desire. Faye Dunaway(The Psychiatrist), " Drunks",'97, laughed herself to death with Tom Crown telling her his most intimate problems. Ben Gazzara(Andrew Wallace), Crown's lawyer, tried to keep the police away from his hidden art treasure's. Lots of depth in this film and plenty of HOT PASSION !

Wrong title - This is not a remake!

[kvkienlin · 1/10 · 6 May 2002]

The original "Thomas Crown Affair" showed a cool and disciplined Steve McQueen, a seductive and self-controlled Faye Dunaway and - very important - a really cleverly and well-planned crime. The Story is really like a game of chess, and the dilemma of Faye to choose between love and business is climaxing in the end. Every part of that film could be true.

The new film shows nothing of all that. It could be called a "nice film" if they only had not tried a "remake". Pierce Brosnan is playing a rich loser, who gives away 100.000s of bucks for dull bets. And no real lover of art would handle paintings like he does. Rene Russo always seems to be drunk and remote-controlled. Unfortunately even Faye Dunaway accepted a role in this film - as if that could justify this catastrophe. In the end you are feeling cheated - how can all people be so dumb: if only guards would accept wrong deliveries, if only art experts would not recognize water colors instead of oil, if only detectives would follow every step you take but not after obviously your lover committed a crime (and you will run to him), if only monitoring systems would be at the level of the 1950s... anybody could easily become a criminal like Thomas Crown.

Very disappointed!

Simply Captivating

[anborn3000 · 31 October 2004]

It's been awhile since the release of this spectacular cinematic effort. I own the DVD and find myself returning to it often enough. I'm not an incureable romantic, far from it. I'm an observer of life, and this film has a slice of life rarely captured or portrayed adequately...... I'm referring to Thomas Crown himself. Too often we see the baubles and toys of the rich, famous and powerful. They're detailed endlessly on superficial, tightly edited shows that air on television every night. We never see the person behind the toys and what really makes them what they are. In The Thomas Crown Affair, Pierce B. took a little suave from Bond, but added that certain air of confidence and assurance we see in the upper crust of achievers in our society. We're privy to witness that extra drive and risk-taking behaviour the top rung share; while the rest of us clap as the parade goes by. Give McTiernan credit. Those subtle nuances of Brosnan betting huge $$$ for a golf shot, that tremendous splash as he races the catamaran to a wet end, as well as Crown's open friction and flirtation with authority. Pure genius. This film is a five-star effort from stem to stern; but it really is an eye-opening experience for the 95% of the populace content to just eat, breathe and sleep. It shows us the real difference between the rich and powerful and the wannabees.

An entertaining romance thriller

[Luigi Di Pilla · 6/10 · 9 May 2002]

It was a good cat and movie. Some twists seems to be unrealistic but who cares it works anyway because all is possible in a Hollywood film. The main actors played very well and Rene Russo was sexy. I think the sound track could have been better and would have given perhaps another touch to the story. I gave 6/10.