I’ve never seen The Thomas Crown Affair, but it reminded me of Wild Target (2010), which I enjoy. Also, Bill Nighy has more talent than Pierce Brosnan. (I’ve never seen the 1993 version of Wild Target.)
Far inferior to 1999 film. The scene where Faye Dunaway beats Steve McQueen at chess while seducing him is marvelous. Will be interested in your take on the third remake starring Michael B. Jordan due out next year.
Rene Russo has had an interesting career. Originally a model, she made her debut appearance in a film at 35, an age when many actresses In Hollywood are typically seen as aging out of leading woman status because they're "over the hill" (LOL). During the 80s and 90s, when she was in her 30s and 40s, she played a series of smart, tough, accomplished - while simultaneously attractive, feminine and desirable - characters, opposite leading male stars such as Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon 3 &4) and Clint Eastwood (In the Line of Fire), among others...including of course Pierce Brosnan.
Well, gentlemen, I love this movie. It is a heteronormative fairy tale, like Pretty Woman, like every romcom, romdrama, romcaper flick, but unlike Pretty Woman, it is a fairy tale for women "of a certain age" and career competence that says "romance is still possible", "you are desireable" and by a man "of a certain age and income" for all the traits men "of a certain age and income" in real life usually do not find particularly desireable in a grown women: experience, skills, smarts, excellence (not mere competence), and courage. Not "still desireable", just plain old "desireable".
And the "prize/prince" at the end of our fairy tale is multigazillionaire Pierce Brosnan who stole our favorite painting for us, not schlumpy buddy, ice cream sundae, sweater-wearing, comfortable old pair of slippers Billy Crystal (guess what movie fairy tale I don't like). I happen to have a favorite painting in a particular art museum (which I have been fantasizing about stealing for about three decades) and if a very handsome multimillionaire stole it for me and offered to sweep me and my painting away to non-extradition countries in his private jet...let's just say, I'm not really counting on it happening any time soon.
Yeah, it's a glossy, fun Taming of the Shrew update, with a by-Hollywood-standards "over the hill" Kate and a red herring gamine Bianca, BUT TOO MANY GROWN WOMEN KNOW THAT HEART-STOPPING, REAL LIFE "TRADE-IN FOR A NEWER MODEL" BETRAYAL AND WE ALSO KNOW THIS MOVIE IS A FAIRY TALE.
And, SPOILER ALERT, I much prefer this remake's "flying into the sunset ending" over the cynical "realism" of the McQueen/Dunaway original. Yeah, I know, there's no accounting for taste, but that's how I choose to see this movie through an actual female gaze.
Also, private toplessness on a tropical island with a guy you just fucked is "deviant"? Public toplessness is actually "normal" in more cosmopolitan beach resorts like Monaco, Ibiza and St. Barts. What's "deviant" by Hollywood standards is the tits don't belong to an eighteen year old.
As a heterosexual man I root for Rene Russo's character. I'm like "yeah girl, you're charismatic as shit and around a similar age to this incredibly attractive man who would be incredibly attractive even without the money, you deserve to bang this guy and show you're smarter than that smarmy asshole Denis Leary.
"Also I hate this movie, and it should be spoiled."
You had me right there.
Great analysis of dressed up patriarchy.
I didn't care of it either, I would like to see the original.
Enjoy.
I’ve never seen The Thomas Crown Affair, but it reminded me of Wild Target (2010), which I enjoy. Also, Bill Nighy has more talent than Pierce Brosnan. (I’ve never seen the 1993 version of Wild Target.)
We'd better stick with the 1968 original- better actors, better director, and one of the greatest songs of the '60s, "The Windmills Of Your Mind"...
Far inferior to 1999 film. The scene where Faye Dunaway beats Steve McQueen at chess while seducing him is marvelous. Will be interested in your take on the third remake starring Michael B. Jordan due out next year.
huh. maybe I need to see the original…
Rene Russo has had an interesting career. Originally a model, she made her debut appearance in a film at 35, an age when many actresses In Hollywood are typically seen as aging out of leading woman status because they're "over the hill" (LOL). During the 80s and 90s, when she was in her 30s and 40s, she played a series of smart, tough, accomplished - while simultaneously attractive, feminine and desirable - characters, opposite leading male stars such as Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon 3 &4) and Clint Eastwood (In the Line of Fire), among others...including of course Pierce Brosnan.
Well, gentlemen, I love this movie. It is a heteronormative fairy tale, like Pretty Woman, like every romcom, romdrama, romcaper flick, but unlike Pretty Woman, it is a fairy tale for women "of a certain age" and career competence that says "romance is still possible", "you are desireable" and by a man "of a certain age and income" for all the traits men "of a certain age and income" in real life usually do not find particularly desireable in a grown women: experience, skills, smarts, excellence (not mere competence), and courage. Not "still desireable", just plain old "desireable".
And the "prize/prince" at the end of our fairy tale is multigazillionaire Pierce Brosnan who stole our favorite painting for us, not schlumpy buddy, ice cream sundae, sweater-wearing, comfortable old pair of slippers Billy Crystal (guess what movie fairy tale I don't like). I happen to have a favorite painting in a particular art museum (which I have been fantasizing about stealing for about three decades) and if a very handsome multimillionaire stole it for me and offered to sweep me and my painting away to non-extradition countries in his private jet...let's just say, I'm not really counting on it happening any time soon.
Yeah, it's a glossy, fun Taming of the Shrew update, with a by-Hollywood-standards "over the hill" Kate and a red herring gamine Bianca, BUT TOO MANY GROWN WOMEN KNOW THAT HEART-STOPPING, REAL LIFE "TRADE-IN FOR A NEWER MODEL" BETRAYAL AND WE ALSO KNOW THIS MOVIE IS A FAIRY TALE.
And, SPOILER ALERT, I much prefer this remake's "flying into the sunset ending" over the cynical "realism" of the McQueen/Dunaway original. Yeah, I know, there's no accounting for taste, but that's how I choose to see this movie through an actual female gaze.
Also, private toplessness on a tropical island with a guy you just fucked is "deviant"? Public toplessness is actually "normal" in more cosmopolitan beach resorts like Monaco, Ibiza and St. Barts. What's "deviant" by Hollywood standards is the tits don't belong to an eighteen year old.
As a heterosexual man I root for Rene Russo's character. I'm like "yeah girl, you're charismatic as shit and around a similar age to this incredibly attractive man who would be incredibly attractive even without the money, you deserve to bang this guy and show you're smarter than that smarmy asshole Denis Leary.
Naturally, I think you are astute and discerning. And quite correct about Mr. Leary's character.