MovieChat Forums > The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) Discussion > laughably horrible

laughably horrible

posted 18 years ago by jovanja_almassy
44 replies | jump to latest

after reading the reviews of this movie, i was really excited to see this. i just watched it last night for the first time, and i'm not really sure what i was expecting, but i wasn't impressed.

i'm really into cinema classics from the 60s and 70s, and i guess this movie was good to watch just for the sake of knowing about it, but i don't even know where to be begin with this movie.

right from the theme song, i couldn't help but laugh. the movie was unintentionally hilarious. the ending where vicky starts crying was also unintentionally hilarious. low quality film and completely over-dramatic main characters in my opinion.

the only thing that kept me watching to the very end was paul burke. other than that, i don't have any plans of watching this film again. and this is all coming from someone who's seen 'rosemary's baby' about 300 times and still doesn't get tired of it.

i'd have to give 'thomas crown affair' a 4.5 out of 10.

"Nothing's ever for sure John. It's the only sure thing I do know."-Charles (A Beautiful Mind)

[–] rixter 12 years ago

I think this was a probably good movie for its time. But I think the movie is dated now and doesn't hold up. The awful music and the annoying split screen scenes were too much for me and I had to fast forward through them. And considering the cast, I thought the acting was pretty bad. Note: McQueen's silly laughing scene in his mansion after the first robbery. It was like McQueen was learning how to laugh for the very first time in his acting career. Cringe-worthy.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 12 years ago

It could be forced, or false, laughter . . . his expression for what he is doing . . . not meant to be sincere . . .

[–] artistathome 11 years ago

McQueen was the George Clooney of the time. And he was cool, he was in many movies back then that do hold up. What about the one where he is the sailor and they get stuck in China? Remember that one. OMG such a good movie.

The movie doesn't hold up well for several reasons. The clothes which were so popular for the time and made the movie fun to see are dated now! Of course people are going to laugh at a movie where the clothing was like a character in the movie.

The Caper is pretty unbelievable but fun to watch. You can't take this seriously tho.

Steve Mc will be cool no matter what, it is Faye Dunaway who ruined it for me.

Just remember, movies made in the 80s and 90s are pretty dated now especially the 80s.
And movies being made in the 2000s will seem foolish and silly in a few years.

frankly the movies that seem to hold up over time are period pieces and movies from the 40s. Especially the WW2 movies. They are dated and it doesn't matter because our memories are from books and history and we expect those movies to be dated and it is ok.

But when Tommy and Vicky are parading around looking cool, they don't look all that cool because we are too close to the time in which it was made.

[–] RBM05 9 years ago

"The movie doesn't hold up well for several reasons. The clothes which were so popular for the time and made the movie fun to see are dated now! Of course people are going to laugh at a movie where the clothing was like a character in the movie."

This isn't true at all. Maybe for the women, but not the men. There is nothing really "generational" about the suits. The fit of the suits are pretty slim, the styling is pretty timeless (no bell bottoms, not crazy big lapels, the shirt collars are normal), etc. Hell, you can't go a week without seeing McQueen in GQ or Esquire or something, with the magazine basically telling you to go out and buy this look today. Everything from the Persol sunglasses to the boots he wears in the glider.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 12 years ago

The true meaning of this most interesting work is still elusive to so many . . .

[–] blackhawkswincup2010 11 years ago

@ hisgrandmogulhighness--especially to you...

I agree with the OP. Just watched it, and it was crap from beginning to end. Dated, hackneyed, poorly written and acted. Just a stinker. Give me Ocean's 11 & 13 (Clooney/Pitt version) every time.

[–] leekingswood 10 years ago

apparently you don't get it either...and no one is comparing it to that Clooney/Pitt slop

go back to your xbox and leave the classics to those of us with actual life experience

[–] davethemathtutor 9 years ago

Quite a few comments on this thread seem to assume that anyone who hates this movie must be young, while those of the older generation will surely love it. This is baloney. I'm in my sixties, with plenty of life experience, so I was already a young adult when this movie came out; and I'm in complete agreement with the "crap from beginning to end" point of view. Ridiculous screenplay, lame acting, cheesy music. There are plenty of great movies from the 60s that deserve to be called classics; this one is trash.

[–] leekingswood 9 years ago

Apparently in your case you just have terrible taste in cinema.

----I highly doubt anything written below this line will change my mind----

[–] davethemathtutor 9 years ago

Well then, Leekingswood, since your taste in cinema is so much better than mine, please enlighten me: What is it you find so admirable about this movie? Do you find the screenplay intelligent and credible, the acting masterful, the music inspiring? What? I'd really like to know what there is about this movie that makes you so fond of it that you attack anyone whose opinion differs from your own.

[–] SunCanyonRoad 11 years ago

COMPLETELY DISAGREE

This film is a very stylish 1960's affair. Steve McQueen and Faye Dunnaway are in top form too, especially Steve. The style of film making, from the choice of song (which is good) to the multi-panel effects are quintessential 1960's fare. I don't think a youthful audience could or would ever appreciate this style of film. There are no explosions, several instances of quiet moments without dialogue (the iconic chess match scene for instance) and McQueen ditches the girl in the end (which is not typical for Hollywood). And it's exactly these things that actually make this film good and many levels better than the hokey "canned" remake with Pierce Brosnan. That iconic chess scene is significant because these characters are playing chess with each other virtually the entire film and then, in the end, the too cool for school McQueen breaks the predictable Hollywood formula by dumping on the girl. (Which the lame-o Brosnan version didn't do)

Steve McQueen is a movie legend and icon... Pierce Brosnan (though I do like him) isn't in the same league. Faye Dunnaway is a film icon in her own right and it would be a crime to mention Rene Russo in the same breath.

The original is a good film and simply better than the remake.

[–] hisgrandmogulhighness 11 years ago

Randolph:

You've got it right . . . it's a most sophisticated motion picture . . . you couldn't do this film today with the audience you mentioned . . . I haven't wasted my time seeing the remaked, as this film never needed to be remade!

[–] bpike6319 11 years ago

Right on the money. Very few under 50 will "get" this film and that's a shame.

[–] zzi 11 years ago

Spoiler------

Someone on this post said it, He dumps the girl"
She actually dumps herself.
"Left early. Please come with the money... or, you keep the car. All my love, Tommy." it's the pause that tell you all you need to know"

[–] brahma-3 11 years ago

This is quite possibly the best film of the 60s, absolutely flawless and style and delivery with the perfect cast.

[–] eelb 10 years ago

What's fascinating about viewers opinions of this film, is the sharp divide on the music score. People either love it or hate it. It would be interesting to know the posters ages. I would wager it breaks evenly among age groups, of whether people like or dislike the music.

[–] bigtrain45 10 years ago

What's wrong with web pages like this is that any myopic dope who can type can come on here and render their useless opinion about work done by dozens of talented people that has been enjoyed by millions. Ok, you don't like it. Do you go to the listing for every movie you don't like and start a negative thread? Must be quite a life you've got.

[–] b-rad 10 years ago

From your post, it sounds like you don't believe people who don't like it have any right to voice that opinion. It's a forum for discussion about the film. Some people like it, some don't.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

[–] Fleurus 10 years ago

Well said, Big !

And about the music, people only refer to the "Windmill" song. I think they should listen to the entire soundtrack.

[–] 9 years ago

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