MovieChat Forums > The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) Discussion > Russo's character ruined this movie!

Russo's character ruined this movie!


I was looking forward to see this movie,since I like both Brosnan and Mcqueen very much.I have to say that Crown fits Brosnan better then Mcqueen,for me Mcqueen will always be a renegade,not a macho.
I also think that the Thomas Crown character is the perfect macho ever created on film and the contrast couldn't be any bigger between his and Russo's character.
What's with all the political correctness?Can't a man be a man anymore?I mean the girl betrayed him at the end,they should have left it like in the original,she's trying too hard to be a feminazi,to the point that it's not even funny.
But even if you don't mind the character,Russo just doesn't fit the movie,she is too old or too clumsy looking for this,she just doesn't have the look of a confident woman,Angelina Jolie,Sharon Stone or even Basinger would have been perfect for the role.

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she does blow it... trying too hard to keep up with him...

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[deleted]

She was great.

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Wrong. She's perfect.

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I agree, I thought she was perfect. Btw, how hot was she in this role? WOW!

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Hot? She was too manly & skinny for my taste. Can't they get actresses who look normal these days, & not full of bones.

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I have never liked Russo very much. She always seems stiff and over-acting her confidence. She has a sort of boney face and a big chin that I don't like. I think Faye Dunaway at 50 something could have still carried off the same part better than Russo if they had given it to her. My 2 cents worth.

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LukeCoolHand^

I must agree with your critique of Russo.

I've never been very fond of her.

However, this is one movie where I was 'okay' with her performance.




"Shake your hair girl with your ponytail"

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Define normal. If you want women who look like most other women, I guess you want a morbidly obese woman next time.

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She wasn't bony but yes Russo has a more masculine face and is rather big boned but she isn't in any way bony. She just isn't fat.

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How the heck do you figure she's skinny? Did you see the TV version? Because the nude scene shows she's got a very nice figure, especially for a 45 year old. And what is "normal"? A woman whose middle number is bigger than the first and third? I just wondering when round became the look of a "normal" woman.

And do you think a woman like Catherine Banning would allow herself to get fat?

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I agree, I think she was great for this role. I loved her in it and I've NEVER seen Renee look more gorgeous in any other movie than this one. Perfect body, perfect clothes, makeup, the whole nine yards....


"Hey guys! Whoa, Big Gulps huh? All right! Well, see ya later!" Dumb & Dumber

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I think you missed the part about chemistry. Brosnan and Russo had chemistry and that is more important to this sort of a story than the things you point out. I can only presume your a youngster since you think Russo is old and clumsy. In fact, she is neither old nor clumsy. She is elegant, playful, and classy, which regretfully Ms. Jolie will never possess. Jolie certainly has looks but she doesn't play for elegance and playfulness. She has said time and again that she wishes to play the action hero. I have no problem with that but the female roll in this movie didn't require an action hero.

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100% agree! The chemistry was so great that this film became my favourite too :x

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I'm with you on this. I usually like Russo, but her Ann-Margret wannabe thing made the film unwatchable for me. I didn't even finish it.

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I think Rene Russo is a fine actor. But I do think she was a bit off and even annoying in this movie. She did not ruin it but she stood out for more negative reasons than positive ones.

It's not her appearance (age, beauty, body), although in Hollywood we are just used to seeing a lady 10 years too young paired up with leading men.

It's mostly 1) She just did not look natural or genuinely confident playing the totally-in-charge insurance investigator (the hard stares, the putting the feet up on the desk, the witty flirty retorts delivered with preternatural timing). As someone else mentioned, Angelina Jolie and Sharon Stone (much lesser actors IMO) have done it more convincingly.

And 2) various unnatural and annoying mannerisms that made me think of someone trying to channel, yes, Ann-Margret or Jane Mansfield (i.e. leaning in to show cleavage in unusual fashions, getting too close to whisper breathlessly in someones ear, bursts of laughter).

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I'm afraid I'd have to agree - Rene Russo was a total miscast. The whole movie was sub par compared to the original (despite more recent cars and tech) but she has really put the nails into its coffin.

Also, looking at particular parts of the footage I'd also agree that Faye Dunaway would have still pulled much better and more believable leading role than Russo. These are the traps of casing being done by nominal age rather than actual looks. Not to mention that they'd make a splash and a become a legend by doing it with Faye Dunaway for the 2nd time. Maybe she's cost more and need some additional cosmetic surgery but the result would still be several times better and make history.

Not to mention the whole slew of A and even B listers who'd fit much better. Maybe director had a crush on Rene Russo or something :-)

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I understand that we all have opinions, but I think you are all crazy--she was PERFECT for the role. Other than Outbreak, I can't think of another film she starred in which showcased her superb acting ability as well.

She looked FABULOUS, was IMO equally as slick as Brosnan.

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^^^^^^^^^^that!^^^^^^^^^^

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I thought Russo was very sexy but her 'relationship' with him got old. obviously there was sexual chemistry but taking a 2-3 day sojourn with him seemed a bit much. he's a bored billionaire who steals paintings and the folks hired to catch him are not smart enough to out maneuver him.

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In my opinion, this is a rare ocassion where the remake is better than the original. I found it riveting, fun, beautiful to look at, great music and action, and Brosnan/Russo compelling to watch and listen to, with great, memorable moments by other actors, too.

McQueen/Dunaway's version is sixties cool and has moments, but it's not the one I watch over and over.

Ironically, after seeing the new version I went out and bought the original to watch it, only to find that the DVD repeatedly locked up or skipped throughout, and the final scene wasnt even reachable. I returned it for another, but had similar problems. I've since seen it on late night tv.

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In every movie she does, she always seems to start off very stern with nearly no personality, then miraculously she turns into a free spirit who can't stop acting like a teenage girl.

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Ok, but once she took off her blouse she was just fine!

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