The Thomas Crown Affair [DVD] [1999]

Generally speaking, I'm not a great fan of remakes and stepping into Hollywood legend Steve McQueen's shoes in what many considered to be a classic film would perhaps seem like an odd career move. However, Pierce Brosnan pulls it off with great style and I would go as far to say that although Pierce Brosnan may never reach the iconic status of Hollywood wild man Steve McQueen, this movie not only easily surpasses what was an over-rated original but it was also one of the best cinematic releases of 1999.

The plot of the original movie has been given a total makeover. Whereas in the original 1968 version, Steve McQueen organised a $2 million bank robbery, in a very 60's blow against the system, Brosnan pulls off an art robbery single handed, walking out a museum with a Monet painting worth fifty times the amount. However, the essence of the original movie has been retained, and revolves around a tough-nosed female insurance investigator conducting an ambiguous love affair (Rene Russo) with millionaire playboy Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan), whilst at the same time trying to trap her seemingly uncatchable quarry.

Conceived as a star vehicle between Bond movies by Pierce Brosnan's very own Dreamtime Films as the perfect vehicle for his 007-buffed persona, the script underwent several rewrites, including ditching the script that later became the rival and disappointing Sean Connery/Catherine Zeta Jones movie 'Entrapment'. And whereas Steve McQueen was surprisingly entirely cast against type in the 1968 original, the role of rugged bored playboy Thomas Crown fits Brosnan to an absolute tee. It is also to Director John McTiernan and Pierce Brosnan's credit that (the then) 45 year old Russo was cast opposite Brosnan in the role originally made famous by Faye Dunaway, unlike the ridiculous and almost sickening pairing of Grandfather Sean Connery and the young enough to be his granddaughter Catherine Zeta Jones in rival production 'Entrapment'. Russo looks wonderful for her age and the sexual chemistry between her and Brosnan is excellent. As for John McTiernan (the top notch action Director behind such successful movies as Die Hard, Predator and The Hunt For Red October, Die Hard With A Vengeance) he doesn't try to copy the original in any way shape or form and thankfully avoids the split screen gimmickery of the original and instead replaces it with a much more glossy, snappy and modern style perfect for the movie.

All in all this is an excellent caper movie with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and keep you happy. Well worth watching and well worth owning, this is one of the first titles I bought on DVD and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

This is a mature, smart, and sexy film done with flair and is simply put, classy entertainment. This is a refreshing movie where brains prevail over braun, and ultimately, love pervails over possessions. We the viewer are treated to a stylish cat and mouse caper movie where we spend most of the film trying to figure out who is the cat and who is the mouse. Billionaire Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) sets in motion a complex game of chess with top notch insurance investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) when he steals a priceless painting and she is hired to get it back.

Brosnan takes his "Remington Steele" persona and shades it darker and more serious, the end result being the smart and dangerous Thomas Crown, a guy who needs to play this game of chess to feel alive. But when the beautiful Russo begins to match him knight for knight he becomes intrigued with her, the prize no longer being the painting, but the heart. Russo's Catherine is mature, intelligent, and so sexy she burns up the screen.

Denis Leary has a nice turn as the cop who realizes Catherine may be in over her head with Crown and in danger of losing everything. Faye Dunaway, who starred with the wonderful Steve McQueen in the origional film, portrays a psychiatrist trying to get at Crown's psyche and brings a lovely echo of the former film with her.

Brosnan produced this film as well and though he has updated the bank robbery of the origional to art theft he has paid homage to it by using "The Windmills of Your Mind" from the origional score. This is not your typical movie fare but after seeing it you'll wish it were. It is classy, intelligent and sexy. Why it got ignored around Oscar time is beyond my comprehension. It is smartly written and stylishly filmed. When the passion between Catherine and Crown turns to love for Russo the possibility of her being destroyed by Brosnan adds tension and melancholy to the final moments of this film.

This terrific film is like dining out with expensive wine and lobster in lavish surroundings. So pull up a chair and enjoy a night out to remember.....

*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 'BLU RAY' VERSION ***

Armed with nothing more sinister than a plain croissant and a nondescript briefcase beneath his seat, billionaire Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) sits in the Impressionist Gallery of New York's Metropolitan Museum staring at "Noon: Rest From Work (After Millet)" by Vincent Van Gogh. Approaching from behind comes Bobby the Principal Security Guard (played by Michael Lombard) who then smiles at Crown. It pleases him to see one of the exhibits regular patrons sat in his usual place being no trouble to nobody. But then Bobby is curious...

Immediately to the right of Van Gogh's 'haystacks' (as his immaculately dressed art-lover calls it) is a painting that would surely appeal to the 42-year old far more - Claude Monet's "San Giorgio Maggiore At Dusk". But no, Thomas is unmoved. Bobby presses and tells him it's worth a cool $100 million dollars. But again - Thomas is not impressed. Crown then sighs - and staring with great discipline at the Van Gogh immediately in front of him - he says, "It's nice Bobby. It is. But I like my haystacks..." The Security Guard smiles, shrugs his shoulders and walks away admiring Thomas Crown's honesty.

A few hours later a 20th Century Greco Asian Horse arrives in a pallet downstairs instead of an Etruscan Sarcophagus - a `disparity' perhaps? Or perhaps Bobby needs to go to character assessment classes more often...

In 1998 Pierce Brosnan and his production company "Irish Dreamtime" wisely decided to remake the sophisticated 1969 playboy heist movie "The Thomas Crown Affair" which originally starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway - cleverly giving Dunaway the part of Crown's therapist in the new version. It was a genius move. Already beginning to be straight-jacketed by Bond, Brosnan showed that not only could he pull off a leading man in another film, but he could do it with more style and panache than most of Hollywood's elite. Remake or no - the result was a critical and commercial winner that sizzled with both sex and sexiness.

Containing both of these - and a great deal more - up steps the movie's other secret weapon - actress Rene Russo playing a super-savvy Insurance Agent called Catherine Banning. The chemistry between her and Brosnan was so sensational it set tongues wagging globally ("Will you get me? Oh I hope so..."). But with all of this loaded dialogue - promptly followed by sweaty shenanigans on the marble staircase - the movie desperately needed some serious grounding and the occasional laugh. For this they added in the wonderful Denis Leary as Detective Michael McCann (..."some of these broads are wearing my salary...") and Frankie Faison as his partner Detective Paretti. Their sparring with the smarter Russo character (some of her dialogue titles this review) is magical and so deftly handled.

Also blessed with a brilliantly-written and cleverly plotted script by Lesley Dixon and Kurt Wilmer, great original music by Bill Conti and expert Direction by John McTiernan - "The Thomas Crown Affair" was quite rightly hailed as a fantastic piece of cinema.

Which brings us to this BLU RAY reissue. Its default aspect is 2.35:1 (bars on the top and bottom), but even stretched to full screen - it holds its shape, is detailed and clean. I'm also thrilled to say that the picture upgrade is obvious even as the credits roll. It never looks anything less than great and at times (close-ups of suits, faces in restaurants, her slinky gowns) it looks beautiful. Even in the Museum Basement sequences - which are dark and faintly lit - the print is still superbly clear.

Niggles - the Blu Ray is an American-only issue at the moment, but it is an 'all regions' disc - which means it plays on all players. Some have found that this isn't the case, but it did on my mine without any fuss whatsoever - so check your machine. The other major let down is the complete absence of any extras - not even a trailer.

To sum up - 12-years haven't diminished the entertainment value of this fantastic remake one jot. And despite the disappointing lack of extras - the truly superb upgrade in picture quality and reasonable price - should convince fans and newcomers alike to put this Blu Ray repurchase high on their wish list. Great stuff.

I'm off now to capsize my yacht and run off with that moll from the insurance company with the M25 legs and Mick Jagger lips (as you do)...

BLU RAY Specifications:
Picture: 2.35:1 Aspect ratio
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, French 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: English for Hard-Of Hearing, Spanish and French