How do you get the man who has everything?
When You Raise The Stakes, You Heighten The Attraction.

The Thomas Crown Affair
We enter the life of Mr. Thomas Crown, a wealthy businessman who has it all. There isn't anything in the world he couldn't have or he just couldn't buy. Unfortunately, he has a problem: he's bored. No excitement, no challenge anymore to his rich but mundane existence. So, he decides to take a painting. Enter Catherine Banning, an insurance investigator whose job is to recover the painting, or her company has to fork over $100 million (the value of the painting). While the police think they have their thieves, Catherine believes she already has her man. Thomas believes he's finally found someone worthy to challenge.

"You can trust me..but as long as your interests don't run contrary to my own..."

Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) in "The Thomas Crown Affair"

The Thomas Crown Affair stars Pierce Brosnan as Thomas Crown, a self made millionaire who has everything other people others can only dream of. Dinner with a supermodel-done. Travel to Hawaii on his private jet-no problem. Acquire a high profile company via a corporate takeover-complete. Unfortunately for Mr. Crown, he feels as if there is no longer a challenge to any of it anymore. Life for him is dull. One of passions that still gives him enjoyment is a Monet (lovely painting valued at over $100 million) that hangs in the local museum. He decides for the sake of excitement he is going to take the painting. During a seemingly unsuccessful robbery, Crown manages to secure his prize. Enter Catherine Banning (Rene Russo), a beautiful investigator hired by the painting's insurance company. Her job: recover the painting, if possible, and find out who took it, or else a $100 million claim has to be paid. She suspects that Thomas Crown is the thief, and that the robbery was staged. She decides to lean in on Crown and try to find the painting. Crown discovers that this woman is no ordinary opponent, and actually finds a challenge in her. What neither of them ever imagined was that they would fall in love with each other. The story progresses with some nice twists and turns to its exciting climax. The film also stars Denis Leary, Frankie Faison, and Faye Dunaway.

This film is a gem in itself. The story is well written, and flows very nicely. Pierce Brosnan is savvy, smooth, debonair--he definitely portrays the ladies man without a hitch in this film. He seems to be like a conquerer, a king trying to expand his kingdom, but you see he actually has a warm, honorable side. Rene Russo--charming, witty, believable. She starts out as the tough guy in this movie, portraying the you can't pull the wool over my eyes attitude. As the film progresses, you discover she has a heart.

The movie has a lovely balance of romance, suspense, and drama rolled into one. However, because of sexual content and nudity, parents may want to keep the kids away from this one. Send the kids to bed, pop some popcorn, and give this one a watch. It's worth the purchase.

by: Zero

Our final take on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being best)

Favorites

The Thomas Crown Affair (September 2000)

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