Sean Connery plays an accomplished and uncatchable art thief in the seductive thriller Entrapment. While Will Patton isn't fully confident of her ability to finally nab the classy criminal, Catherine Zeta-Jones thinks she can handle it because she's a beautiful woman. So, she pretends to be a fellow thief to "entrap" him, but who's trapping who?The famous scene in Entrapment is the one featured on the promotional poster: Catherine Zeta-Jones is dressed in a skintight leather jumpsuit and has to ungulate her way in and out of security lasers in order to steal something. If you want to watch that, you can rent the movie. If you think those types of movies are overrated or you're the one person in the world who doesn't think Catherine is attractive, you probably won't like this one. She is a universally beautiful and sexy woman, and who wouldn't want to watch a movie where she's paired up with James Bond?

"Entrapment" is one of a new breed of crime-action-thrillers. It is one of high tech crimes, usually involving computers and electronics and gadgetry of all sorts. While there was an occasional film of the high tech of the time as far back as the 1950s, this sub-genre burst forth by the end of the 20th century. From the late 1980s to beyond the first decade of the 21st century, a plethora of high tech crime films was made. But after nearly 30 years, there's hardly any new idea for a plot. And, the genre began to get old and worn out within 20 years. I saw this film when it came out in theaters in 1999, but couldn't remember that much about it. With me, if a movie isn't memorable, it's not very good or one I would rate very highly. By the same token, if I don't remember a film as being bad, I may watch one I had seen before. That's the case with this movie. After watching it again now, I guess that I might have rated it one star higher than I do now. Because that was 1999, and the high tech crime caper plot hadn't yet quite worn out. And, this film packs a lot of crime caper action into it, with a good cast. Even then, at age 69 Sean Connery was too old to be playing these types of roles. My six stars are mostly for the suspense in the plot over the question of trust among thieves.The action makes this film mildly entertaining. But this film just reaffirms to me again, how the modern bent for fast movies with wild action require so little acting talent of the cast. Perhaps, one day when we run through the newer fads of films (now, much fantasy and other- worldly stuff), Hollywood will again make some quality comedies and real life dramas in which most of those in the acting profession can once again ply their trade.

The presence of Sean Connery can often rescue a dire movie but not when it is a truly dire movie because one of the main actors, Catherine Zeta Jones, has not talent whatsoever. This Welsh woman can mimic an American accent but that is all she does, mimic not convince, nor can she convince us that she is a savvy , experienced, hard-nosed insurance investigator. Without her, the movie might have been a success, but her presence was required because she was married to Michael Douglas. She has never provided a memorable performance in any of her movies, and not even in the little English TV comedy drama from which she sprang. She cannot even make the light romance with a much older man, Connery, believable, even though she had plenty of experience with her aged husband.

Entrapment (1999): Dir: Jon Amiel / Cast: Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ving Rhames, Will Patton, Maury Chaykin: Well crafted action film about being caught but not so much within a crime but within a relationship. It is about technique when committing theft. Sean Connery plays a elderly thief who steals art paintings and Catherine Zeta-Jones plays an agent assigned to bring him in but she wishes to steal the Chinese mask and needs his help. Detailed plot that gets lost in its action scenes particularly in the conclusion where nothing makes sense. Well crafted by director Jon Amiel whose credits include Copycat and The Man Who Knew Too Little. He is successful when it comes to different genres and subjects. Action is exhilarating but it is the psychological aspects of the thieves that draws us in. Connery is excellent as a thief unreeling charm and intelligence as if baiting. Zeta-Jones is graceful in her romantic curiosity and physical skill. Supporting roles are unfortunately cardboard. Ving Rhames and Will Patton appear in flat supporting roles that are beneath the two leads that overshadow it all. This is a film that depends on the strength of its leads because other roles pass through with very little to make them broad or interesting. Clever in its examination of crime and skill with luring romance and stunning sets that may captivate and entrap viewers. Score: 7 / 10