Friday, 23 March 2012

DVD review: The Thomas Crown Affair


A wealthy tycoon, Thomas Crown, out of boredom organizes the theft of a painting. The beautiful insurance investigator, Catherine Banning, tries to recover the stolen goods.

This 1999 movie is a remake of the 1968 movie of the same name. The director, John McTiernan, is famous for his action capers, he did “The hunt for red October”, “Predator” and “Die Hard” among others, but here he manages to excel in a slightly more sophisticated genre.
This is movie belongs to the Cat and Mouse with added erotic innuendos tradition. We know that Pierce Brosnan is the thief from the very beginning, even the law officers are practically sure about it after ten minutes. The problem is that they need to prove it, and find the painting. So the insurance investigator starts an elaborate investigation cum seduction where, as it always happens in these movies, real feelings start to intrude.
It’s all very glamorous, beautiful sets in beautiful locations, nowadays only 007 does it and it’s a shame. Cinema is supposed to be a form of escapism and when there is economic trouble I’m certainly not offended by a rich set, I actually enjoy it more because it’s more poignant.
Without detracting from Rene Russo, she is simply stunning in the movie and deftly hold her own in a role that’s not easy, but this is Pierce Brosnan show and, as Empire suggested last year, Thomas Crown is his ultimate performance. Maybe in other occasions he had to stretch more but with Thomas Crown he carries his on screen persona to a point where nothing more can be added.
Like the other movies of this genre “The Thomas Crown affair” is full of improbabilities but it manages to be that rare beast that deftly combines action beats with romance and therefore appeases both sides of the couch.
Definitively recommended.

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