Thomas Crown Affair (MOVIE REVIEW)

Thomas Crown Affair poster, featuring Pierce Brosnan & Rene Russo.
(photo credits: MGM Pictures)

Director: John McTiernan (known by Die Hard & The Hunt for Red October).

Producers: Michael Tadross, Pierce Brosnan & Beau St. Clair.

Written by: Alan Trustman, Leslie Dixon & Kurt Wimmer.

Main Cast: 

Pierce Brosnan -------- Thomas Crown 

Rene Russo ----------- Catherine Olds Banning

Denis Leary ------------ Detective Michael McCann

Faye Dunaway ------- Thomas' psychiatrist

Esther Cañadas ------ Anna Tyrol Knutzhorn

Fritz Weaver ---------- John Reynolds

Frankie Faison ------- Detective Parretti

Ben Gazzara -------- Andrew Wallace

Pierce Brosnan, all eyes on Rene Russo: "Do you wanna dance or DO YOU WANNA DANCE?"
(photo credits: MGM Pictures)

Release Date: August 6, 1999 (USA) / September 3, 1999 (Brazil)

Running Time: 113 min. 

Budget / Box office: $48 million / $124.3 million (box office success).

Plot summary: Based on the 1968 movie of the same name. In the remake, Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan, great in Mrs. Doubtfire & 007 movies), a self-made billionaire, is bored of everything he desires, but he's irresistible to women. Therefore, Thomas has a hobby - stealing art masterpieces.
After the theft of a Monet painting (stolen by Thomas Crown), the only person who suspects Crown is Catherine Olds Banning (Rene Russo), a sexy insurance investigator, but smart, driven and alone. Her job: get the painting back to the MET Museum, in New York City.
 But in the middle of the investigation, Catherine falls in love with Thomas in an unexpected way. The romance happens in three moments: a black and white ball, a gliding flight and two days in Martinique (France).
Back in Manhattan, Catherine thinks she has reason to be jealous, so when he suggests they go off together, she hesitates... because the insurance investigator also suspects that there's another woman in Thomas' life, Anna (Esther Cañadas), which makes Ms. Banning very unsure to trust Crown. 

The ending is when Catherine, shaken and fallen apart, is on plane to Britain. A hand reaches through the seats from behind her and gives her a handkerchief while using a voice that doesn't quite sound right. She looks in the seat behind her to find Crown. She leaps at him, furious at his actions. "Did you set this up?" shouts Catherine to Thomas, and her screams were listened by the stewardess.

And both kissed each other. While Ms.Banning hugs Mr. Crown, she whispers, in a seductive way, in his ear: "If you pull a stunt like that again... I'll break both your arms!"

Rene Russo in scene of Thomas Crown Affair... so sexy and seductive!!!
(photo credits: MGM Pictures)

Fun Facts about the movie:

• There are several changes comparing the remake from the 1968 original (directed by Norman Jewison), most notable for the amount of intimacy and nudity scenes between Catherine (Rene Russo) & Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan).
• Rene Russo's clothes were entirely done by Michael Kors for the Celine collection. Along with her hairdo used in the movie, Rene's Catherine Banning was her best character done in her entire acting career.
• Rene Russo did her first nude scenes of her career in Thomas Crown Affair.  
• First of two remakes John McTiernan did from Norman Jewison movies. The other movie was Rollerball (2002), starring Rebecca Romjin, Jean Reno & rapper LL Cool J.
• When Catherine (Rene Russo) is at Martinique (France), she drapes a white towel around her breasts... and when she "lassos" her towel around Thomas' neck took sixteen takes to get it just right. Weights were added to the towel to get it to work correctly.
• And in Rene's recent interviews on TV, many of the interviewers ask of... Thomas Crown Affair. According to Rene (Russo): "Many women ask of him (Pierce Brosnan)... what was he like? Is he cute? Is he dreamy? Yes he is. He's a good kisser. (...) For the love scenes, are always really hard! (laughs)" (see "Rene's Valentine's Day Special" post)

Rene Russo: concentration in scene. (photo credits: MGM Pictures)

Critical Reception:

• IMDB: 6,8/10 
• Rotten Tomatoes: 70% (100 reviews, fresh).
• Metascore: 72/100
• AdoroCinema (Brazil): 4/5

Next week, I'll talk about Rene's character in Thomas Crown Affair, Catherine Banning... !!!  

Hope u like it.

Loveuguys.

xoxoxo 

ME

RENE RUSSO FANPAGE PRESENTS: Dan Gilroy Special!!!

Dan Gilroy, 2017. (photo credits: Jay L. Clendenin/Getty Images)

Daniel Christopher Gilroy, known as Dan Gilroy, was born in June 24, 1959, in Santa Monica, California (USA). He is son of Frank D. Gilroy (Pullitzer-prize winning dramatist) and Ruth Dorothy Gaydos (sculptor & writer)... also brother of Tony Gilroy (director and producer, known for Michael Clayton and The Bourne Legacy), and John Gilroy (his twin brother, John is a film editor). Dan's main inspiration was his dad: When Dan was a young boy, he saw his father writing and it simplified his difficulties of becoming a writer.

Even born in Santa Monica, Dan grew up in Washingtonville, New York, on Orange County. There he attended Washingtonville High School, and in 1981, he graduated from Darthmouth College (New Hampshire), with a degree in English literature. 

Rene Russo & Dan Gilroy, just married. 1992. (photo credits: Ron Galella/Getty Images)

His screenwriting career began with Freejack (1992), directed by Geoff Murphy, and starring her future and now wife, the lovely Rene Russo (and both have a beautiful daughter, Rose, born in August 31, 1993). Dan and Rene will marry 2 months later after the film premiere. After that, in 1994, Dan will also write Chasers (1994), directed by Dennis Hopper (known for Blue Velvet, Waterworld, Speed and many others), and starring Tom Berenger (Rene worked with Tom in Major League, in 1989, but also great in Somebody's Watching over Me, Betrayed, and Platoon). 

Way years later, Dan also write Two for the Money (2005), The Fall (2006), Real Steel (2011), The Bourne Legacy (2012) (his brother Tony directed the movie), and recently, Kong: Skull Island (2017). 

Rene & Dan Gilroy, in Nightcrawler premiere, 2014. (photo credits: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

Now to his directing career... His directing debut was Nightcrawler (2014), starring Rene Russo, Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed. Dan's inspiration: a photo-book called Naked City, a photo collection taken by American-Hungarian photographer Weegee about 1940s New York City's residents at night. The movie was well received by the public and critics.

Last year, he directed Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017), with Denzel Washington and Colin Farrell. Gilroy conceived of Roman J. Israel after doing extensive research about the 1960s where many Americans have staunchly protested and advocated certain individual and group rights. With Nightcrawler and Roman J. Israel, Esq., Dan proved he has lots of talent. 

This year, he will direct and write Velvet Buzzsaw (2018). In recent interviews, Dan said it was inspired by The Player (1992), by Robert Altman. And it also reunites Rene Russo, Jake Gyllenhaal and John Malkovich (Rene and John Malkovich worked together 25 years ago, in the movie In the Line of Fire, in 1993). We are so excited!

Hope u like it. 

Love u guys!

xoxoxo
ME

RENE RUSSO FANPAGE'S VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL!!!

Rene's family moments in the Academy Awards: along with her husband, Dan Gilroy (left),
and along with Dan and her daughter Rose Gilroy (right). (photo: Getty Images).

While in United States Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14, in Brazil, this day is celebrated on June 12 (tomorrow).

As I said on the end of part 2 of her bio, since 1992, Rene is happily married to Dan Gilroy, and both have a beautiful daughter, Rose Gilroy, who pursues modeling since 2016. 

And what about in movies? I selected five romantic opposites with whom Rene she played: Mel Gibson, Pierce Brosnan, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman & last but not least, Jake Gyllenhaal. 

Mel Gibson, Pierce Brosnan, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Jake Gyllenhaal:
the 5 lucky men of the Valentine's Day Special. (collage: M.E.Serrano)

1- Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon 3, Lethal Weapon 4 & Ransom)

Rene Russo and Mel Gibson, 1992. (photo credits: David McGough/Getty Images)

Mel Gibson is well known for doing Mad Max & Lethal Weapon franchises, Conspiracy Theory, and many others. And what's Rene Russo got to do with this story? Well, here it goes. Most of the movies Rene starred were next to Mel Gibson (3 times in total). In Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), while Lorna (Russo) and Riggs (Gibson) were comparing scars, they share a kiss together, and in Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), they work again together, now their characters are wife and husband.

But between Lethal Weapon movies, they worked together again in Ransom (1996), Mel and Rene were Tom and Kate Mullen, respectively. Both have to face their son's kidnapping, done by Jimmy Shaker (Gary Sinise, great in Apollo 13 and CSI NY)
2- Pierce Brosnan (Thomas Crown Affair)

Rene Russo and Pierce Brosnan, 1999. (photo credits: Ronald Simmoneit/Getty Images)

Pierce Brosnan is best known as roles as Mrs. Doubtfire, some 007 movies and... Thomas Crown Affair, along with Rene Russo. In a People magazine article, according to Pierce, "Rene is the only woman of the summer in my book. She does it in such a gorgeous, sensuous, sexy way.”  

And in Rene's recent interviews on TV, many of the interviewers ask of... Thomas Crown Affair. According to Rene: "Many women ask of him... what was he like? Is he cute? Is he dreamy? Yes he is. He's a good kisser. (...) For the love scenes, are always really hard! (laughs)" 

3- Robert De Niro (The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Showtime & The Intern).

Rene & Robert De Niro, holding Rocky & Bullwinkle plushies.
HOW CUTE! (photo credits: Time & Life Pictures)

Another actor who worked most times with Rene was Robert de Niro, great in many movies, such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Cape Fear remake, Casino and many others. But with Rene... he worked three times, two as a romantic opposite: Showtime and recently, The Intern (The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle doesn't count... even De Niro worked together with her, Rene's romantic opposite was Jason Alexander, great in series as Seinfeld, and in movies such as Pretty Woman, The Paper and Shallow Hal).

In Showtime, De Niro plays Mitch, while Russo plays Chase, a TV producer (in the end there are hints of romance between both of them), and in The Intern, Robert plays Ben (a widow), and Rene plays Fiona (the massagist). In my opinion, the best part is when Fiona appears massaging Ben's back... so relaxing...

In the end of The Intern, Ben and Fiona ended together. 

4- Dustin Hoffman (Outbreak)

Dustin Hoffman hugging Rene Russo during Outbreak premiere, 1995.
(photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Dustin Hoffman is best known on Tootsie, Rain Man (he won an Academy Award), Kramer vs. Kramer, The Graduate and many others. Now, in Outbreak, Hoffman portrays Sam Daniels, Robby's ex-husband (Robby is portrayed by Russo). Sam and Robby reconcile when he and Salt (Cuba Gooding Jr.) saved her from Ebola disease. 

5-Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler & Velvet Buzzsaw)

Jake and Rene: perfect chemistry in scene. (photo credits: StarTraks Photo)

And finally, last but not least: Jake Gyllenhaal. Jake is one of the actors with most popular audience, specially youngsters (and girls too). He is great in Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain, Jarhead, Southpaw... and Nightcrawler. 

Like I said on the Nightcrawler post weeks ago, Rene Russo and Jake Gyllenhaal have such chemistry in Dan Gilroy's debut (Jake was Lou, Rene was Nina). Both were great... and the public (specially Rene and Jake fans) questioned themselves... Why Jake and Rene were forgotten on the Golden Globes & the Academy Awards? (...) Jake should have received something, he should have received a nomination! 

And this year, Rene and Jake are working again together, in Velvet Buzzsaw, by Dan Gilroy. Jake plays Morf Vandewalt, and Rene, Rhodora Haze! We're excited for both working together! 

Other Rene's romantic pairings...

Along with these five, Rene also worked with Kevin Costner (Tin Cup, 1996),  Clint Eastwood (In the Line of Fire, 1993), John Travolta (Get Shorty, 1995), Emilio Estevez (Freejack, 1992), Tom Berenger (Major League, 1989), Jim Belushi (Mr. Destiny, 1990), Dennis Quaid (Yours Mine and Ours, 2005), and many others!

Wish u everybody a Happy Valentine's day!

Hope u like it!

love u guys.

xoxoxo

ME 

Rene Russo Fanpage News: Rene Russo's Character Revealed in "Velvet Buzzsaw"!!

Rene Russo is Rhodora in "Velvet Buzzsaw" and we're all excited! (photo: Getty Images)

Rene Russo's character was FINALLY revealed in Dan Gilroy's new movie and we are all excited!

Rene Russo is gonna play a news producer named Rhodora Haze in the Netflix Original directed by Dan Gilroy called Velvet Buzzsaw.

The film is scheduled to come out October 26th this year and is currently in post-production.

It'll star Jake Gyllenhaal and Zawe Ashton.

We can't wait for this movie to begin!!

Source: Velvet Buzzsaw Movie Fans/Twitter

(twitter: @velvetbuzzsaw_ )

Hope u like it!

love u guys!

xoxoxo 

ME

My favorite looks from Rene Russo on the Red Carpet/Fashion & Movie Premiere Events - Part 2

The Rene Russo version of a powerful woman. Simply STUNNING!!! (photo credits: Steve Mack/Gary Gershoff-
Getty Images/collage-M.E.Serrano)

This is a follow-up of part 1 (published on May 7). 

Gotham Independent Film Awards - December 2014.

Rene Russo showed her "powerful lady" side on Gotham Independent Film Awards, on New York City (and it's not the first time, because she is a beautiful woman). Even not wearing a dress, she decided to wear a black blouse, with black leather pants and and black ankle boots. To not bore everybody with too "matchy-matchy", she decided to put some gold jewelry to show her luxurious and powerful side!!! 

And also what caught my attention was her hairdo and her makeup, it makes her even more sexy, sophisticated and more chic!!! #WorkItGirl #GoOnRene !!

Rene Russo sending some kisses to the to public. GORGEOUS! (photo credits: Time & Life Pictures) 

Thomas Crown Affair, 1999

"Are you ready Rene?". Rene Russo blew off everybody's minds when she wore a Celine dress by Michael Kors (Michael was known by being one of Project Runway judges, from seasons 1-10). It might be simple, but it's very sexy. And like in this photo, Rene blowing some kisses to the public, made us falling in love with her even more!!!

Rene in Two for the Money premiere. (photo credits: Steve Granitz/Getty Images)

Two for the Money premiere, 2005. 

It's just not another black dress found in a retail store... it's a tailor-made black dress that Rene wore on the Two for the Money premiere. And it fits very, very well on her. It has some little lace details that makes Rene feel more comfortable and sexy in this dress.

Rene in a beautiful J. Mendel dress, in the Academy Awards, 2015.
(photo credits: Jason Merritt - Getty Images/collage: M.E.Serrano)

Academy Awards 2015

The dress Rene wore on the Academy Awards 2015 was a beautiful J. Mendel dress. I loved it because it was an avant-garde dress (it's a dress everyone had never seen before). It's avant-garde, because it's all made by hand, its simple on the top side and it's very ellaborated on the bottom (lots of ruffles, it makes the dress avant-garde). Besides, the back is pretty!! And the dress fits like a glove!

Rene with a beautiful black and silver dress, for Nightcrawler premiere.
(photo credits: Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

Nightcrawler premiere - October 2014.

This dress is my favorite, not only because of the colors (silver and gray), also because it catches everybody's attention, including mine's. It's simple but it makes her a "showstopper". The dress makes her feel very young!!! 

Hope u like it.

love u guys.

xoxoxo 

ME