THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR —**1/2 —Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo, Denis Leary, Frankie Faison, Faye Dunaway, Ben Gazzara, Esther Canadas; based on the 1968 film of the same name; rated R (profanity, nudity, sex, violence, vulgarity); Carmike 12, Creekside Center and Ritz 15 Theaters; Century Theatres 16; Gateway 8 Cinemas; Loews Cineplex Broadway Centre, Midvalley and South Towne Center Cinemas; Redwood Drive-in (with "The Rage: Carrie 2"); Reel Theatres.
Give the makers of "The Thomas Crown Affair" some credit. They may not have made a film that's better than the original, but at least they made it different.
Actually, for at least an hour, this stylish romantic thriller improves on the source material, a 1968 film starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. But some inconsistent characterizations and a particularly unconvincing ending almost spoil that rather promising beginning.
And in an odd ode to the original, this film's romantic pairing doesn't quite work. Like McQueen and Dunaway, stars Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo might sound like an appealing combination, but they don't set off as many sparks as you might expect.
The movie does have its exciting moments, however, and on the whole, it's a distinct improvement over "Entrapment," another thriller that (unsuccessfully) tried to cover some of the same ground.
In this update, Thomas Crown (Brosnan) is a successful businessman, but instead of plotting a bank robbery, he steals an expensive painting. The "acquisition" is a particularly valuable Monet, and the crime has NYPD Det. Michael McCann (Denis Leary) stumped.
In fact, Crown is the last person they'd suspect of masterminding the theft — especially since he helped capture a suspect who was trying to flee the museum. But Crown's helpful act doesn't fool insurance investigator Catherine Banning (Russo), who begins tailing the billionaire.
However, her rather unusual investigation methods — such as cozying up to her prime suspect — leave her confused about the man and, worse, causes her colleagues to begin questioning her loyalties.
Director John McTiernan does a good job of keeping things moving, at least in the film's first and third acts. And, perhaps surprisingly for the man who brought us two of the "Die Hard" movies, he downplays what little on-screen violence there is.
Unfortunately, he plays up the movie's sexuality, which includes a needless, simulated sex scene and unashamed displays of nudity by the leads, especially Russo (or in a couple of instances, their body doubles).
The performances are similarly uneven. As the title character, Brosnan is a bit too aloof — something that McTiernan and screenwriters Leslie Dixon and Kurt Wimmer seem to be aware of. Especially in a couple of unconvincing scenes that have Crown in therapy with a psychiatrist (Dunaway), a feeble attempt to humanize the character.
Russo fares better and seems to be having a good time vamping it up. But frankly, she has more chemistry with Leary, who's quite good in an underwritten role, than she does with Brosnan.
"The Thomas Crown Affair" is rated R for profanity, male and female nudity, simulated sex scene, violence (an apprehension) and use of some crude slang terms.