It's been awhile since the release of this spectacular cinematic effort. I own the DVD and find myself returning to it often enough. I'm not an incureable romantic, far from it. I'm an observer of life, and this film has a slice of life rarely captured or portrayed adequately...... I'm referring to Thomas Crown himself. Too often we see the baubles and toys of the rich, famous and powerful. They're detailed endlessly on superficial, tightly edited shows that air on television every night. We never see the person behind the toys and what really makes them what they are. In The Thomas Crown Affair, Pierce B. took a little suave from Bond, but added that certain air of confidence and assurance we see in the upper crust of achievers in our society. We're privy to witness that extra drive and risk-taking behaviour the top rung share; while the rest of us clap as the parade goes by. Give McTiernan credit. Those subtle nuances of Brosnan betting huge $$$ for a golf shot, that tremendous splash as he races the catamaran to a wet end, as well as Crown's open friction and flirtation with authority. Pure genius. This film is a five-star effort from stem to stern; but it really is an eye-opening experience for the 95% of the populace content to just eat, breathe and sleep. It shows us the real difference between the rich and powerful and the wannabees.
