The Most Powerful Elements of This Great Movie?

The Thomas Crown Affair

The strongest element in this (not) great movie is Jack Weston as Erwin, the bagman for the caper. Weston was a great actor who (for my money) was never boring.

All of his scenes grace the movie with a palpable human reality that gives weight & artistic legitimacy to the Dunaway-McQueen antics, which are just stylistic gloss aimed at enticing consumers into big spending on the good life.

The brief exposition of Erwin's home life presents a chilling picture of a husband and wife at each other's throats with a little boy caught in the crossfire. After a bitter exchange about going to mother's house for a visit, I wondered if the two really hate each other, or just carry on with a tone of rancor that has no teeth. Next thing the wife rats out Erwin for twenty-five grand; question answered. I'm guessing this family is prone to making a lunge for the good-life promos that counterpoint their sad existence.

Anyone giving credit to the movie's suggestion that Mr. Crown is rebelling against the system is being duped by mainstream Hollywood's mercenary co-option of the anti-establishment ethos of the late sixties. If anything, Tommy the sociopath, with his brandy snifters, luxury cars and bank capers, makes good as a poster boy for ruthless capitalism.

This movie was made during what I call my "Dark Hole" period, when I had 2 babies and hardly ever left the house. Therefore, although I had heard of it, and had seen the remake when it first came out, I only saw this movie two nights ago on tv.

I was completely blown away. Maybe it's because I'm older, or maybe it's McQueen's ability to look like an adorable 5 year old when he's doing things that you know are Horrible, but I found this movie to be a fascinating study of a man who has everything, and nothing.

The remake (good movie; I love Brosnan) was a heist caper. This is something different, deeper, and ultimately more satisfying. It only uses the caper to get us into the depths, and that song is the haunting explanation of it all. Notice how calm and collected Tommie looks as he pilots the plane; not a muscle moves. Now, look at the dizzying acrobatics of the glider against the sky and the earth below. Absolutely Perfect. In that moment, we Know that this man is only outwardly the calm master of the universe. That scene is moviemaking at it finest, with its ability to lay a person out so we can see to the core - and that song is the perfect accompaniment.

Then, of course, is the Chess game, which shows just how sexy you can be in a milieu that doesn't allow you to show gyrating bodies. Much more interesting - and oddly, sexier.

As for the ending, I was struck by the fact that he didn't tell her Where he was going. She's a detective, right? And that smile as he hoists the martini; oh, she's coming. He can hardly wait to see how she does it. Perfect. Absolutely Perfect.