Monday, September 3, 2012

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)


It’s Labor Day weekend, which means barbecuing burgers and lots of addicting marathons on TV, such as the entire second season of Sex and the City on The Style Network. When I needed a short break from Carrie Bradshaw and the girls, I scrolled up through the guide and saw one of my favorite fashion films: the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo.

I could see that a theme was developing: Sunday style. Brosnan and Russo looked so sharp, so tailored—almost every single outfit worn conveys classic New York elegance. Just like Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in the original film from the ‘60s, Brosnan is confident and suave, bathing in wealth; Russo is determined and sexy, this time with a killer red ‘do. Her character, Catherine Banning knows from the start Brosnan’s Thomas (“Tommy") Crown is the fast mouse she has to corner and catch. She knows he’s stolen a masterpiece from a museum, and she will get it back.

Tommy always seems to be a half step ahead, yet Catherine never lags behind, even in a black evening gown and heels. Besides the word, style, the other word this film sparks to mind: chemistry. Watching Brosnan and Russo embark on their flirtatious affair is two hours well spent on the couch on a Sunday afternoon.

This scene is their first meeting:


And, now, let the real flirting begin: Tommy takes Catherine to dinner, of course he has no reservation and doesn’t need one. One of my favorite lines in this film belongs to Russo. Tommy knows Catherine has quite the reputation with men, yet wonders why she never keeps any of them around. Catherine’s response as she sips a little water from her glass is reminiscent of line that could’ve been fired off in an old Joan Crawford or Bette Davis movie. BSo


No comments:

Post a Comment