Product description

The Thomas Crown Affair [1999]

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Average customer rating: 4.5

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5050070000313
Label : MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer : MGM Entertainment
Publisher : MGM Entertainment
Release date : 2000-02-28
Title : The Thomas Crown Affair [1999]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Suitable for 15 years and over
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1999-08-20
Region code : 2
Running time : 109
Studio : MGM Entertainment
Theatrical releaseDate : 1999-08-06
Number of discs : 1

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
For the Hollywood remake rule, which dictates that an update of an older film be inferior to the original in almost every aspect, The Thomas Crown Affair stands as a glorious exception. The original 1968 film, starring a dapper Steve McQueen and a radiant Faye Dunaway, was a diverting pop confection of mod clothes and nifty break-ins, but not much more. John McTiernan's new version, though, cranks up the entertainment factor to mach speed, turning what was a languid flick into a high-adrenaline caper romance. Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is now a man of industry who likes to indulge in a little high-priced art theft on the side; Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) is the insurance investigator determined to get on his tail in more ways than one. If you're thinking cat-and-mouse game, think again--it's more like cat vs. smarter cat, as both the thief and the investigator try to outwit each other and nothing is off-limits, especially after they start a highly charged love affair that's a heated mix of business and pleasure.

What makes this Thomas Crown more enjoyable than its predecesor is McTiernan's attention to detail in both the set action pieces (no surprise from the man who helmed Die Hard with precision accuracy) and the developing romance, the witty and intelligent script by Leslie Dixon (she wrote the love scenes) and Kurt Wimmer (he wrote the action scenes), and, most of all, its two stunning leads (both over 40 to boot), combustible both in and out of bed. Brosnan, usually held prisoner in the James Bond straitjacket, lets loose with both a relaxed sensuality and a comic spirit he's rarely expressed before. The film, however, pretty much belongs to Russo, who doesn't just steal the spotlight, but bends it to her will. Beautiful, stylish, smart, self-possessed, incredibly sexy, she's practically a walking icon; it's no wonder Crown falls for her hook, line, and sinker (the Academy should too, hopefully). With Denis Leary as a police detective smitten with Russo, and Faye Dunaway in a throwaway but wholly enjoyable cameo as Brosnan's therapist. --Mark Englehart

Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) is now a man of industry who likes to indulge in a little high-priced art theft on the side; Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) is the insurance investigator determined to get on his tail in more ways than one. If you're thinking cat-and-mouse game, think again--it's more like cat vs. smarter cat, as both the thief and the investigator try to outwit each other and nothing is off-limits, especially after they start a highly charged love affair that's a heated mix of business and pleasure.

What makes this Thomas Crown more enjoyable than its predecessor is McTiernan's attention to detail in both the set action pieces (no surprise from the man who helmed Die Hard with precision accuracy); the developing romance; the witty and intelligent script by Leslie Dixon (she wrote the love scenes) and Kurt Wimmer (he wrote the action scenes) and, most of all, its two stunning leads (both over 40 to boot), combustible both in and out of bed. Brosnan, usually held prisoner in the James Bond straitjacket, lets loose with both a relaxed sensuality and a comic spirit he's rarely expressed before. The film, however, pretty much belongs to Russo, who doesn't just steal the spotlight but bends it to her will. Beautiful, stylish, smart, self-possessed, incredibly sexy, she's practically a walking icon; it's no wonder Crown falls for her hook, line and sinker. Denis Leary plays a police detective smitten with Russo and Faye Dunaway has a throwaway but wholly enjoyable cameo as Brosnan's therapist.--Mark Englehart, Amazon.com

Customer reviews

review by: Author, The Griffon Trilogy Pt I date: 2008-12-01 rating:

Elegant, Amusing, Entertaining
I loved this movie. Even though the 1968 movie with Steve McQueen as Thomas Crown and Faye Dunaway as Vicki Anderson (the Catherine Banning characater in this version)was great, I enjoyed this one more. Faye Dunaway appears as the psychiatrist in this version. Pierce Brosnan plays the Thomas Crown character with the right amount of style and mischievousness and with his cool, calculating reserve makes a good counterpart to Rene Russo's exuberant but equally intelligent insurance investigator (Catherine Banning). The repartee between her and Crown and Detective McCann (Dennis Leary) provides a lot of the energy for the movie. Brosnan and Russo manage to create a strong sexual and romantic tension as well. Scenes of sailing and events in Martinique provide some pleasing visual footage. Crown steals Monet's painting, San Georgio Maggiore At Dusk, worth $100,000,000 and the movie takes off from there.

review by: date: 2008-09-20 rating:

Fun and entertaining
Lost count how many times I've watched this over the years but it remains a really entertaining film combining great cinematic scenery, characterisation and plot. It is a fine remake of a classic and Brosnan's performance is especially good. He plays Thomas Crown brilliantly and certainly keeps the determined Rene Russo on her toes!

What makes the film for me is the art and the detectives, who always seem to be second guessing Crown's next move. Even more brilliant is the unforgettable museum scene near the end. A fine film that can be revisited many times.

review by: date: 2008-08-12 rating:

My favourite film ever, always will be!
I have no doubts that this will forever be my favourite film. The story is spot on, the characters perfect and Pierce Brosnan at his absolute best. I can't think of a better way to spend a few hours in front of the TV.

review by: gaskella2 date: 2008-04-13 rating:

A good remake
The critics have been divided over this film. Was the original film a great film? Why bother to remake it? Is the remake better?
As romantic crime capers go, this version starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo is really entertaining. The two stars definitely have chemistry, and the film looks brilliant and stylish. Dennis Leary as the cop gives good support, and the heist and its reversal sequences are imaginatively realised. The soundtrack pays homage too; but the inclusion of snippets of the original's Oscar-winning song "Windmills of your mind" sung by Sting is overegging it a bit.
My main criticism is of a slow middle; also I felt casting Faye Dunaway (who originally played the Russo part) as Crown's therapist was unnecessary.
So is it any better ? The original had Steve McQueen cast against type; now we have Brosnan in the type of role he's very comfortable in ... I adore them both! The original had that chess scene! The remake doesn't attempt to emulate it, having a suitably steamy love scene instead. The original's split screen sequences were groundbreaking in 1967, but slightly annoying now. Personally I prefer the remake - but I'll still watch Steven McQueen any day too!

review by: date: 2007-10-02 rating:

Yeah it was fine, but I'd still rather watch the original
It has to be debatable whether this film needed a remake, because the original is still very watchable in its own right, if a bit of an aquired taste, with its emphasis on style and glamour. But I suppose it was inevitable, seeing that many far less stylish movies had already had the treatment, and the trend of remaking films just goes on. A picture famous for its style over substance feel, and unashamedly glamorous setting and theme, it gets a pretty good remake here, but for me, it isn't perfect. I may have found Faye Dunnaway irritating in the original, but she is no where as irritating as the Actress in the remake. I know that character is supposed to be a no nonsense, hard edged female executive/insurance agent with her fair shair of alure, but this new version just left me cold, so much so, that I just couldn't see what Crown would have liked about her. Brosnan, however was a natural choice to cover McQueen's role, and he does it with his usual winning charm. This film was not as stylish as the original though, it was slick, and very glossy, but did not have the 'international' sort of panache or the airy charisma which shone through the original. It seems harder edged, more in tune with the hustle and bustle and sheer pace of modern life, and perhaps its materialism, but lacks the artiness of the original, the laid back enjoy the moment feel which was very late 1960s-this film is its more streetwise, hyperactive offspring. The heist and action sequences are very well filmed and make the movie enjoyable, but I'm still struggling to see the point of a remake at all.

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