The Thomas Crown Affair Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Thomas Crown Affair Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 14, 2023

John McTiernan's "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1999) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with composer Bill Conti; new program with cinematographer Tom Priestly Jr.; archival documentary; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked."

A few nights ago, I did an unplanned double bill. I revisited John McTiernan’s The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) and then Norman Jewison’s The Thomas Crown Affair (1968). I am a very, very big admirer of the former, and each year I revisit it several times. There is a lot that I like about it but the main reason I keep coming back to it is that it relaxes me and always sends me to my bed in a good mood. (Another film that has the same effect on me is Adrian Lyne’s Indecent Proposal, though in it the magic materializes differently). So, after I was done viewing McTiernan’s film, I pulled out Jewison’s film and stayed up until the sun started coming up. I have never been a big admirer of the original film. I think that some parts of it work rather well, but the chemistry between Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway is off and Jewison’s direction is seriously underwhelming. My take on it has always been that it aspires to be an arty project while it should have been a first-class caper, so I decided to see whether a fresh viewing of it could change it. It did not. I was halfway through it and already had twice as many reasons to dislike it as I did in the past.

Earlier today, I started viewing the supplemental features on 88 Films’ release of McTiernan’s film and after approximately fifteen minutes ended up viewing it again. In its entirety, without any interruptions, and I enjoyed every single minute of it, as I always do. It is a very beautiful and elegant film, with outstanding leads and supporting actors, incredibly well-lensed, and perfectly edited. It has a killer soundtrack, too. In other words, it is a perfect film.

In one of the archival bonus features on this release, McTiernan and producer Beau St. Clair reveal that they intended to deliver an updated version of Jewison’s film. This is an important clarification that almost aligns with my take on the film because I do not see it as a remake, which is how it is frequently described. McTiernan’s film alters so much and its characters have such drastically different personalities and goals that the few elements it retains from the story that is told in the original film are essentially irrelevant. I suspect that this is the reason Dunaway was invited to join its cast. If The Thomas Crown Affair was to be retained as its title, Dunaway’s presence would have legitimized it as a remake.

Pierce Brosnan’s character looks a lot like a very distant relative of Arsene Lupin. He is a cultured chameleon whose incredible intellect is his greatest weapon. When he steals, he engages in an intellectual game that gives him pleasure. He appreciates the loot too, but its financial value does not stimulate his imagination or determine what would be his next job. The reputation of the loot does. He is a legit businessman who has enough money to last him a lifetime. When he steals a priceless painting from the biggest art museum in New York, he dares the authorities to deconstruct a multi-layered chef-d'oeuvre, not a con job. It is his style that attracts Rene Russo’s insurance agent and his intellect that makes her fall in love with him. She recognizes the intelligent gentleman-artist in him who also happens to be a thief. That is who Arsene Lupin was, too.

The battle of wits in McTiernan’s film is vastly superior. It is more complex but more logical. It is more glamorous but refreshingly unpredictable. It emphasizes style but makes the outstanding chemistry between the two leads its foundation. Without the chemistry, the entire film would have been a collection of pretty visuals and different forms of pretentiousness that very quickly would have bored the mind. The battle of wits that unfolds before the camera accomplishes the exact opposite and the film quickly becomes a tremendous, incredibly lush roller-coaster adventure.

McTiernan’s cinematographer was Tom Priestly Jr., a very talented but underappreciated professional whose understanding of mise en scène is superb. There is one particular sequence where Brosnan goes back to the museum to return the priceless painting, fully aware that he has been betrayed, that is a minor masterpiece. The camera captures movement in multiple areas of the building and its movement perfectly matches the intensity of the event that is underway.

A film this stylish could not have been complete without an appropriately lush tune by Sting and predictably at the end he can be heard singing a beautiful rendition of “The Windmills of Your Mind”. Other treats include Nina Simone’s classic tune “Sinnerman” and a collection of spectacular jazz tunes by Bill Conti, arguably the best of which is “Bulgari Necklace”.

The Thomas Crown Affair Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.36:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Thomas Crown Affair arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

I did several comparisons with this release of The Thomas Crown Affair that MGM producer in 2010, which is the only one I have in my collection. I can confirm that 88 Films' release is sourced from the same master.

The existing master is good but its age is starting to show. For example, while virtually all close-ups look either very good or close to excellent, several wider panoramic shots reveal weaknesses. Usually, fine nuances are not as convincing as they need to be and some highlights fluctuate. In darker areas, shadow definition can be managed better as well. Also, while stable, color balance can be better. There are several primaries and supporting nuances that can be better saturated, and if they are, you will see a pretty significant improvement in the dynamic range of the visuals. In fact, I think that this is where the age of the current master shows the most -- the dynamic range of the visuals desperately needs to be expanded. The rest is solid. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Fluidity is surprisingly good. Sharpness levels are good. Image stability is excellent as well. So, the current master is good and makes it easy to enjoy the film. However, if MGM remasters the film in 4K, there will be a substantial upgrade in quality that viewers with larger screens or projectors will appreciate. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Thomas Crown Affair Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

On my system, the 5.1 track performs as well as I think it could. The Thomas Crown Affair has a very diverse soundtrack with plenty of unique effects and nuances that produce terrific dynamic contrasts. All exchanges are very easy to follow as well. If in the future the film is remastered in 4K, I would not be opposed to having a Dolby Atmos track -- just so I could hear how much better the great footage from the museum can sound -- but I do not think that the current 5.1 track has any weaknesses. I would not be surprised to hear that it was approved by John McTiernan or a key member of his team.

The Thomas Crown Affair Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Would You Like to Dance? - in this exclusive new program, composer Bill Conti quickly addresses his background and experience in the film industry and discusses the soundtrack he created for The Thomas Crown Affair. There are some very interesting -- and true -- comments about the role music should have in a film and how the harmonies Mr. Conti composed interact with the drama that flourishes in The Thomas Crown Affair. In English, not subtitled. (28 min).

• You Like the Chase - in this exclusive new program, cinematographer Tom Priestly Jr. explains how he was approached with an offer to work on The Thomas Crown Affair after the original cinematographer was fired, and discusses John McTiernan's working methods and interactions with cast members (there are some very interesting comments about Rene Russo), interesting lensing preferences, and the visual style of the film. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• The Making of a Masterpiece - this archival program focuses on the genesis of John McTiernan's film and its relationship with Norman Jewison's film and highlights some of their key similarities and differences. Included in it are clips from interviews with Mr. McTiernan, Mr. Jewison, producer Beau St. Clair, Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo, and Denis Leary, as well as raw footage from the shooting of the film. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Barry Forshaw and Sean Hogan.

• Theatrical Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. theatrical trailer for The Thomas Crown Affair. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Stills Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional stills for The Thomas Crown Affair.

The Thomas Crown Affair Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you combine Arsene Lupin and James Bond, you would get a pretty accurate replica of the character Pierce Brosnan plays in John McTiernan's The Thomas Crown Affair. I think that this character is stronger than the one Steve McQueen played in Norman Jewison's The Thomas Crown Affair, which is a very different film, too. I think that the former tells a better story and consider it one of the most elegant capers in my library. This release is sourced from the same master MGM has licensed to various distributors around the world, but has a couple of exclusive new bonus features. If you decide to pick it up for your library, please keep in mind that it is Region-B "locked". HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.