In the audio commentary for this film Norman Jewison describe TCA as a film of 'style over substance' and he's right, but the style is the very point of this film. As Norman Jewison points out in the audio commentary from the sound mixing, to camera work, to the editing it was all an experiment in style and the final ingredient in this experiment is the acting. First Faye Dunaway is uber, calm, sexy and collected as she openly admits that she's 'immoral and in it for the money' and is not afraid to use her womanly charms to get what she wants. But for me it's Steve McQueen who sets the tone for this film and in my opinion I find it hard to believe that he found this role challenging because as always he is the epitome of playing it cool.
Now I first saw the re-make before I saw the original version and I can't say which I prefer more, there are elements of the re-make that made the idea of the film somewhat stronger but then there are the more quite and subtle moments in the original that were somewhat trampled on by the re-make, for example the love scene. In the original it is a somewhat cheeky, humorous, and a quietly smouldering piece of storytelling, but in the re-make it is nothing more than a full blown, out and out, there no need to imagine it affair. Also another thing that the re-make will not surpass is Steve McQueen as Thomas Crown, now I like Pierce Brosnan, but Steve McQueen is cool without trying to play at being cool and that's the difference. Also the original doesn't go for the Hollywood ending of Tommy and Vicki ending up together. As Norman Jewison says in the audio commentary of the original the fact that Tomas Crown, before he's even done the second robbery, has made up his mind that he'll be on the plane and knows Vicki will betray him is wonderful cynical, he never even gave her the chance.
But to give the re-make some credit the fact that it has Thomas Crown take part in the art robbery is a nice touch and adds more to the idea that he's doing it for kicks. Also the re-make makes a bit more effort to give the story more substance, and that's something that the original should have had.
If the original Thomas Crown Affair had a bit more substance, and a better development of plot, the caper itself and Tommy's and Vicki love affair then I think the film would have a much higher standing in cinema history.
But then again Thomas Crown's life is all about style with no substance, a wealthy man who lives in a big house by himself with no other meaning to his life than to play the part of the rich playboy being seen at the right clubs and wearing what's fashionable. No wonder the man was bored.
Now I first saw the re-make before I saw the original version and I can't say which I prefer more, there are elements of the re-make that made the idea of the film somewhat stronger but then there are the more quite and subtle moments in the original that were somewhat trampled on by the re-make, for example the love scene. In the original it is a somewhat cheeky, humorous, and a quietly smouldering piece of storytelling, but in the re-make it is nothing more than a full blown, out and out, there no need to imagine it affair. Also another thing that the re-make will not surpass is Steve McQueen as Thomas Crown, now I like Pierce Brosnan, but Steve McQueen is cool without trying to play at being cool and that's the difference. Also the original doesn't go for the Hollywood ending of Tommy and Vicki ending up together. As Norman Jewison says in the audio commentary of the original the fact that Tomas Crown, before he's even done the second robbery, has made up his mind that he'll be on the plane and knows Vicki will betray him is wonderful cynical, he never even gave her the chance.
But to give the re-make some credit the fact that it has Thomas Crown take part in the art robbery is a nice touch and adds more to the idea that he's doing it for kicks. Also the re-make makes a bit more effort to give the story more substance, and that's something that the original should have had.
If the original Thomas Crown Affair had a bit more substance, and a better development of plot, the caper itself and Tommy's and Vicki love affair then I think the film would have a much higher standing in cinema history.
But then again Thomas Crown's life is all about style with no substance, a wealthy man who lives in a big house by himself with no other meaning to his life than to play the part of the rich playboy being seen at the right clubs and wearing what's fashionable. No wonder the man was bored.