I'm a sucker for Pierce Brosnan. Hence I could not let this movie be unseen. In addition, it would be about a rich playboy who steals art, which provoked my interest. A 6.8 on IMDb, I just dared it.In retrospect a good choice. You'll be back in the 90s with this smooth movie. Simple tension, sincere love, cuddly humor and more of those concepts that have totally disappeared from the contemporary film industry. Nowadays everything is complex and complicated. In the nineties you could still enjoy the genius of a wealthy businessman.I was not really attracted to the screen every moment of the movie so I cannot call the story extremely good. Yet, the quasi-nonchalant act of Pierce Brosnan - Thomas Crown in this story - combined with a fascinating image, forms the quality of this film. Think of tropical holiday homes, luxurious dinners and exciting nightly scenes.Should you see this movie or not? Watch this movie if you like to watch nineties movies. If you do not feel the urge to see The Thomas Crown Affair based on this description, I have to confess that you probably do not miss anything. This is not a must-see, but a want-to-see.

This movie had so many good things going for it: handsome and debonair lead actor (this movie could have been written for Brosnan),good supporting cast, great scenery, surprise twists and turns, etc). However, I thought all of that was undermined by a horribly miscast Rene Russo as the female lead. I've always loved the performances of mature actresses such as Helen Mirren and Judi Dench who never lost their appeal even as years passed. But featuring Russo as Catherine Banning made me cringe. Her actions and dialogue never fit her post-menopausal persona. She looked more 54 than her actual 44, and I found it made her role more annoying than alluring. At times, even pathetic. It's not Russo's fault. Writers simply wrote the part for a young seductress as the lead, and then casting tried to shoe-horn Rene Russo into the role. I would have much rather seen Brosnan and Russo play chess (like a scene in the original version), than see Russo grind on the dance floor wearing a formal gown. Indeed, Russo appeared to rely on her looks and sex more than her intelligence as the film progressed. In the original, 1968 film version there was a memorable kissing scene between Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway that went on to become famous. The kissing scenes in this 1998 version made me say,"Ick."The original and the remake are different enough to stand on their own. If you weren't wild about the original, you may still enjoy the remake I like both films, but for different reasons.

Super rich Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) can't resist a great caper. He steals a $100M Monet painting in an elaborate scheme from the museum. Police detective Michael McCann (Denis Leary) heads the investigation. Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) is the super smart investigator for the insurer who's only goal is to retrieve the painting. Only she falls for Thomas along the way.The caper is great. I love the robbery scheme. I also love the solving of the robbery scheme. From there, the movie goes into game playing mode between Brosnan and Russo. Some of it is great like the burning of the wooden crate. Others are more contrived and stylized. Most of it is fun. It's all very light and jazzy without the tension.

I've been watching this movie off and on for years. It was on DISH today. It is a masterpiece. For any of you that have had a dysfunctional passionate relationship it's a must see. It'll stir up your emotions from that old dead relationship like a witch's brew. :-) There's a rumor that there might be a sequel. I hope that it has the original stars (from the 1999 version) and not a remake. Writing a successful sequel where the loving relationship still exists would take Monet. Dunaway as the shrink and Leary as the cop; excellent. The music, cast, filmography, and direction were all nice. I love every movie that McTiernan has directed. Russo, stunning, absolutely stunning.