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Sensational, more than 5 stars are needed

Excellent acting, directing, and cinematography. Amazing twists and turns. Thomas Crown is the man us business yuppies always aspire to be, sharp, good looking, over confident, and rich. This DVD and the soundtrack are a must in your collection. Bill Conti's music is jazzie and classical. BUY BUY BUY!

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

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!

Loved it!

I thought it was full of action but it also had an underlying story: something almost unheard of if you compare it to movies like MI-2.

The actors were right for the part and the whole product was incredibly entertaining.

Fabulous Movie

While I am not perhaps the most impartial viewer for this film, being hopelessly devoted to Pierce Brosnan, I can cheerfully recommend it to anyone.Well, anyone who isn't addicted to MTV and so cannot abide films that don't have a jump-cut every 2.5 seconds. The Thomas Crown Affair is not that sort of film. It *is* an intelligent, mature thriller / romance, and it *is* great fun to watch.

Very Entertaining

While any comparisons have been made with the original, this movie is still good enough to stand on its own merit. 1999 demands more ritz and glamour and it delivers on both counts. While there are a few slow passages at the beginning, this still turns out to be a very entertaining film. Renee Russo and Pierce Brosnan complement each other perfectly. Who doesn't leave this movie wishing that they were Thomas Crown??

Strong, but weak, at the same time.

The Thomas Crown Affair with Pierce Brosnan is based on the old movie from 1968 with the same name. And to tell you the truth, the old one is better. The old Thomas Crown Affair with Steven McQueen and Faye Dunaway has a better rhythm to it. Steve McQueen who plays Thomas Crown in the old one, is a lot cooler than Brosnan. Brosnan speaks too much to be considered a a really cool rich guy. Anyway, Heres my review on the new Thomas Crown Affair. Pierce Brosnan is, as always, the good looking rich guy who always gets the girl. Rene Russo is the Insurance Agent who falls in love with Pierce Brosnan. The movie is strong in that the movie flows very well. It is easy to follow as well as to enjoy. Brosnan uses his James Bond like movement to capture your attention. If someone who didn't know better saw the movie halfway through, they would swear it was a James Bond movie. Whatever Pierce Brosnan does, he acts like James Bond. The weak part of the movie is that it gets boring. If you watch this movie, and don't like Pierce Brosnan or Rene Russo, you will turn it off. It doesn't contain the level of action that you would expect. The chemistry between Brosnan and Russo is also lousey. It seems that they were both told what to do, and then after the director said "cut," the two of them would walk away from each other and not talk to each other again until the next scene. This is a must see movie if you're a Brosnan fan.This movie is a "renter", not a "buyer". I did. And renting the movie changed my whole view of the movie. The trailer is exciting, but the movie does not live up to that expectation.

Classy, stylish, sexy.

This classy, stylish, sexy remake of the McQueen/Dunaway film is superior in every way to its predecessor. The script is better, the characters more attractive, the crime ever so much more intelligent, and the ending vastly more satisfying. It's one of the best films I've seen in years, and the chemistry between the fabulous Rene Russo/Brosnan and Russo/Leary is wonderful.Rene Russo is the one of the best and most beautiful actresses in Hollywood today. She lights up the screen with her warm and mature beauty. Pierce Brosnan and Denis Leary were at their best in their fully-developed and intriguing roles.This is just one great film.

Wonderful!!

I love this film and still watch it about twice a year. Pierce was born for this role (this and James Bond). He is the perfect suave millionaire the little princesses in all of us dream about. Normally, I'm not a Rene Russo fan, but she certainly nailed this part to the wall. The original, to me, has nothing on this remake and I swear I'm still waiting with baited breath for a part two. Holding on to a man like Thomas Crowne can't be easy to do...

It was okay

I did not see the original. However I think it is interesting that they included Faye Dunaway, who was in the original, as a therapist in the remake. Unfortunately I don't find it believable that the type of character Thomas Crowne appears to be, would frequent a shrink. I found a number of flaws with this movie. You can see the character Thomas Crowne is "bored" and takes risks with his life and obviously his freedom. However, you don't get a real insight into the why he does this. As for Rene Russo's role, it is equally as shallow. They have some hints at many former partners, but the why the dissatisfaction and why she is in the business of investigating insurance fraud is only broadly spoken to. She too quickly bonds to Pierce Brosnan's character while turning him in simultaneously. This is where reading the book can add so much more insight. They are two good actors and worked well together. Pierce Brosnan's reserve as well as Renee Russo's were a perfect fit for the characters. I found the film enjoyable and both robbery scenes well done.

Better than the Original

Although the presentation is not as stylish as the original, I prefer this version. There is better chemistry between the characters, Thomas is actively involved in the crime & he steals art, not money. Being a devoted Magritte fan, I have to love the ending. :o) Loved it!

It looked good.

I have always wanted to see the original. I'm a fan of Steve McQueen, but, for some unknown reason, haven't had a chance to see him in The Thomas Crown Affair. So, I can't make a comparison of the two films. I rented this one on DVD, because I heard it was good. It looked beautiful, but the acting left much to be desired. At least, Rene Russo's acting left much to be desired. I'm not a big fan of Pierce Brosnan, but I really liked him in this. I normally like Rene Russo, but I thought she was just awful in this movie, and didn't believe the attraction between the two, which was supposed to be the premise of the movie.I did enjoy the movie, but it might have been better with someone else as the female lead.

A very smart and sexy surprise.

I don't want to jinx this movie, but this is this year's Out Of Sight (and I hope it makes the B.O. that Out Of Sight deserved to make). It is one of the most stylish, smart and sexy movies I've ever seen. Pierce Brosnan's role as Crown unavoidably has some Bondish trappings but this works as a plus rather than a minus. Brosnan is virtually perfect in the role. Denis Leary has just the right edge as the cop whose job it is to catch him, but despite these two winning performances the movie belongs to Rene Russo. For the last few years she has been one of the most enjoyable actresses to watch due to her ability to carry off toughness with a smile. Here she moves up several levels in her craft as she intertwines real sizzle with a steel will. I hope Oscar does not overlook her work in this one because she is an early and deserving contender for lead actress. And what about John McTiernan? This guy directed Die Hard, Predator (which was much better than it had any right to be) and The Hunt For Red October then slipped almost totally from memory. Now with this one he is back on the A-List with a bullet (something this movie refreshingly lacks by the way). This movie soars on charm, plotting and style. It knows exactly when to cut from one scene to another. It never drags and it looks great. I'm too young to remember the original movie so this was all new material to me. I'm sure if you look very closely at it the plot comes apart, but I don't care to because I was enjoying the ride too much. Obviously I was taken by complete surprise by this movie. Congratulations to all involved with the making of this movie. I'll be talking it up at work tomorrow.

Don't expect a James Bond thriller -- expect better

You can't go into this movie expecting a James Bond like movie, because you'll be disappointed. If you can refrain from doing such, this is a spectacular movie that keeps you guessing until the end.

One look at the plot and it sounds quite boring. But Brosnan and Russo make a terrific pair and produce a fantastic movie.

The DVD doesn't have many special features, and I recommend renting it before buying it. But, if you ask me -- you'll end up buying it!

A life we all want to live

I thought that this film was one of the best that I have seen in some time.
It captured the viewer and took him on a chase that didn't end until the credits. You wondered what would happen next and if the police would ever get their man. I found it to be a love affair that we would all enjoy having. Go see it with a close friend

Disappointing - could have been good.

I wanted to like this film. I like art capers (to catch a thief, to steal a million). I like Pierce Brosnan. I know he's typecast - but I like that suave Cary Grant-esquire elegance. I was very pleased to see an AGE APPROPRIATE couple!It started off interestingly and nearly ended interestingly too. I enjoyed the parts that centered on the theft(s). The "trojan" horse bit was amusing. The twists and trying to figure out who is doing what was amusing. The Magritte references - not only to the amusing Bowler man switch but the reference to Thomas Crown himself were all done well.However the "romance" just didn't work for me. I felt like it was all about Rene Russo's character using her body to solve a case and then (stupidly) falling for a crook. There were multiple gratuitous breast shots (I detracted points just for that). There was an overly pointless long sex segment. The "romance" was just boring and overly clichéd. The dialogue wasn't snappy or interesting. The scenes added nothing to the movie. Also, another point was taken off for the soda product placement by Russo in the station.So if you're bored one day & want to see an "almost" good movie caper movie or you're a fan of either actor, go ahead and rent it - just be prepared for it to not be as good as it could've been.****SPOILER***** BTW, at the end did he steal 2 paintings or just the boats one for her? If he did only steal 1 -why is he leaving the country?

Lacks the Original's Distinctive Style

As the original "Thomas Crown Affair" stood in roughly the same relationship to real-life crime as the James Bond films do to real-life espionage, the current 007 Pierce Brosnan was perhaps a natural choice to star as the new Thomas Crown. He brings to the role a similar combination of cool sophistication with a hint of toughness as Steve McQueen, the King of Cool, brought to the original. (I have always thought that McQueen would have made a great James Bond if the producers had ever felt they wanted an American in the role).The new film follows roughly the same plot as the 1968 version, with one or two minor variations. The setting is transferred from Boston to New York, and the millionaire tycoon Crown is British rather than American. The most significant change is that the robbery which Crown organises is not of money from a bank but rather of a priceless Monet painting from an art gallery. As in the original, he is pursued by an attractive female insurance company investigator with whom he becomes romantically and sexually entangled. As in the original, the trappings of Crown's millionaire lifestyle are much on display- his expensive cars, his exclusive New York residence (even more luxurious than was McQueen's), his private glider, his yacht. (In this version Crown is a yachtsman rather than a polo player, although he is still a golfer). Even the theme song "The Windmills of Your Mind" comes in at the end and Faye Dunaway makes a cameo appearance as Crown's psycho-analyst.Despite the similarities in plot, I felt that something was lacking compared with the original film. That film is one that you watch less for its plot than for its atmosphere of style and sophistication, the epitome of sixties cool. The remake never really captures this. To take an example, it dispenses with the famous game of chess during which McQueen is seduced by Faye Dunaway; instead the investigator (here called Catherine rather than Vicki) seduces Crown after they have been dancing together. To make a game as intellectual as chess sexy was quite an achievement on the part of the actors and director; it is much less of a challenge to do the same for dancing, an activity which has been described as the vertical expression of horizontal desires. The chess scene is memorable precisely because it is so unexpectedly erotic; the dancing scene is much more forgettable. The director John McTiernan dispenses with Norman Jewison's use of the split screen; that was probably the right decision, as that technique used today would probably have given the film a very dated feel, but McTiernan does not come up with anything equally distinctive to replace it. Pierce Brosnan is good as Crown, but I was less taken with Rene Russo's Catherine, who I felt (surprisingly for an actress who is a former model) lacked the sophisticated elegance of Faye Dunaway's Vicki.I make no apologies for comparing this film to the original version; film-makers who remake earlier movies are deliberately inviting such comparisons. It would be wrong to say that I disliked the newer version. In some respects it is superior to its predecessor; it has, for example, a more coherent plot. There are some humorous touches such as the scene where Catherine thinks she has recovered the missing painting, only to find that it is a fake painted over "Monet's unknown masterpiece- Dogs at Cards". There is also a neat twist at the end when Crown (helped by a number of accomplices, all identically dressed with bowler hats and briefcases) succeeds in replacing the painting on the walls of the gallery under the noses of Catherine and the police. Seen as a romance/comedy/thriller, the remake is not a bad film. It is, however, a routine one. The original was not a great film, but it was never routine. It had its own quite distinctive style and personality, something the remake lacks. 6/10

What happens when two people who always get what they want, want what the other is trying to hide?

Before I watched this movie, I was worried hat it would simply be a cheap imitation of Pierce Brosnan playing James Bond while not playing James Bond. After the movie was over I decided that Thomas Crown is all the good things about James Bond plus a few extra. For one, Crown is a lot looser than Bond could ever be. The best part of this movie is the sense of humor that all the characters have. Crown is a very rich individual that still seeks a challenge. When the mergers and acquisitions business becomes boring, he resorts to other means. It was interesting to see someone commit a crime just for the sake of doing it. The only gain that he gets from the activity is the couple of minutes of excitement that it provided. This was perfectly played against Rene Russo's character. She is also the woman who always gets what she wants. In her case it is art thieves. The best parts of this movie are when the two of them are trying to accomplish their respective goals, even though they run counter to each other. Overall this is an excellent movie and I recommend that anyone should see it at least once.

Brilliant! Tons of fun!

When I saw this film for the first time, I was practically jumping up and down in my seat with excitement as I watched the end. It is definitely a "brain over brawn" movie - extremely clever and witty while the sexual tension between Russo and Brosnan is palpable. Very rare that a remake is so good (and, in my opinion, this is far superior to the McQueen/Dunaway version)! I hardly ever go back for second viewings in movie theatres, but I did for this film. As a side note - great soundtrack too!

A brilliant film

This movie is terrific. It is different from the original. This not only focuses on the actual heist, but also on the relationship between Brosnan and Rene Russo. The story is gripping from the start. The movie is humorous, touching and overall brilliant. The sheer brilliance is the movie's best quality. Go see this movie, it will be worth it. I promise.

I loved it.

To all the technical nay sayers out there with their whining
"you cannot fold a painting" and "you cannot wash oils off with
water" I have but one thing to say and that is - stop already.

If you see ANY movie and you hold some serious professional
knowledge about the stuff going on on the screen, THEY ALWAYS
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS GET IT WRONG!!! That is a given. For me
as a telecommunications engineer, that reveleation came with
"The Long Kiss Goddnight" and in "A Clear And Present Danger".

So that being said, I take a huge chunk of disbelief and
remembering that it is a movie ( so technically always flawed ),
I have to say that I enjoyed this movie immensely.

Renee Russo is so good and her scenes with Brosnan zing off the
screen. I can only say that those reviewers stating there is
no chemistry between Ms Russo and Mr Brosnan would probably not
find any chemistry between potassium metal and water either.

And damn! When Ms Russo is on the screen, it is a wonder that
the screen does not melt. I cannot remember a movie in recent
years in which any female character has been dressed so sexily.
She simply radiates confidence and ability - both professionally
and sexually. In fact though the love scenes in this movie are
by no means gratuitous nor offensive, Ms Russo shows all the
allure of her character while fully clothed.

"Do you want to dance? Or do you want to dance?". Indeed.