The Thomas Crown Affair (1968): Dir: Norman Jrwison / Cast: Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, Paul Burke, Jack Weston, Gordon Pinsent: Clever caper film that gets caught up in romantic formula but not without a heavy dose of wit and charm. Title refers to the anti-hero's lifestyle as well as the romance that threatens to expose him. Thomas Crown pulls off a robbery and Faye Dunaway is sent to investigate but ends up in a romance that will leave her with two choices. Director Norman Jewison does multi-split screen to aid points of view but structure needed more of the crime as oppose to the affair. McQueen plays Crown as witty, laughing at his shrewd accomplishment while baiting Dunaway's seductive methods. What works against the film is its willingness to present the criminal as heroic, even though McQueen is pretty much able to disarm us with his charm. Dunaway is intriguing despite her position within the formula romance. The payoff is her placement in the conclusion and the turmoil going through her mind as he merges far ahead of them. Flat supporting roles from Paul Burke and Jack Weston work against the film. This is also an early appearance for Gordon Pinsent although the film pretty much belongs to the leads. Well made caper that doesn't always work but it maintains a sense of fun. It regards how seduction can reduce even the biggest crimes to exposure. Score: 7 / 10
Review of The Thomas Crown Affair
