The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) Review

 

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

The Thomas Crown Affair follows Thomas Crown, a bored but wealthy businessman who steals an expensive painting, attracting the attention of insurance investigator Catherine, who alternatively strikes up a romantic relationship in order to discover the truth.

There’s a case to be made that just about any movie that Pierce Brosnan made in the 1990s-2000s is just varying degrees of Bond, with the TCA being no exception. In all honesty, I expected this to be fairly generic like most of Brosnan’s films at the time. This though has an undeniable quality to it where you are constantly drawn in by the mystery (much like Catherine). It’s in no way an action movie, nor a thriller, more lying along the lines of a cat-and-mouse game that’s smart, sexy, and full of an indelible swagger. It’s steamy romance, questionable motivations, and incredible ending (I’m not kidding. I was laughing and hollering like a fool at the revelation of how Thomas switched out the Monet. It’s worth the price of admission alone) make this such a fun and mentally baffling flick.

Something I particularly found interesting is that Thomas and Catherine’s relationship isn’t one based in romance or greed, but intelligence. They connect so well due in part because they are intellectual equals, posing a beautifully intense challenge for one another where it’s less of a chase and more a game who’s focus is to one-up the other person. In a movie where that romantic draw is necessary, it’s nice to see different layers to a love that shouldn’t work.

It features a compelling cast in Denis Leary, Rene Russo, & Pierce Brosnan. There’s a reason why Brosnan was Bond—he’s classy, cunning, and above all, cool. He doesn’t need flashy set pieces to pull that off here & his chemistry with Russo is top notch.

The Thomas Crown Affair, directed by Die Hard’s John McTiernan, is a surprisingly thought out film that works, not because of its story or themes (which are rather forgettable), but because it’s a high speed chase of snappy dialogue, plenty of sexual tension, and a laid back tone that allows it to be both unique and fun in a way that only early 2000s movies are capable of.

8.6/10