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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Thomas Crown Affair, The

    Featured In Issue 148, May/June 2010

    Picture5
    Sound4.5
    WSR Score5
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    MGM Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    M121002
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Some sexuality and language
    (Retail Price):
    $24.99
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    113
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    A
    (Theatrical Year):
    1999
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    04/06/10
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    John McTiernan
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS HD Lossless 5.1, DTS 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    "The Thomas Crown Affair" gets a '90s update with Pierce Brosnan as the smooth billionaire who steals a priceless painting from a New York museum just for the thrill of it. Rene Russo stars as insurance investigator Catherine Banning, who initiates an intoxicating game of cat and mouse with Mr. Crown. (Gary Reber)

    There are no special features.

    The 2.36:1 1080p AVC picture is superior in quality to the anamorphically enhanced DVD reviewed in Issue 36. As with the DVD, colors are naturally rendered with accurate fleshtones, rich and warm colors, and deep blacks but are richer and better balanced. Hues are vibrant, with deep greens and reds. Fleshtones are naturally rendered, with a slightly warm and healthy saturated appearance that exhibits pleasing quality. Contrast and shadow delineation are also naturally rendered, with a good gradation of visual information between darkness and picture black. The imagery is nicely dimensional. Images are sharp and detailed, with fine background clarity and definition. Some scenes are softly focused, but close-ups of facial features and object textures are impressive. The picture is pristine with the slightest film grain, which enhances the purely cinematic experience. This is a beautiful film not to be missed. (Gary Reber)

    As with the previously reviewed DVD Dolby® Digital 5.1-channel soundtrack, the DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack features very fine fidelity and a dimensional, holosonic soundfield, both of which contribute immeasurably to the film's overall experience. The sound elements are well balanced, and low-level dimensional sounds are particularly well presented. Dialogue is generally good, with well-recorded voices sounding natural and reasonably well integrated with the scenes. The soundstage is consistently multidimensional, filling the listening space with sound effects and music. The surrounds are active throughout, and at times become aggressive, with prominent split-surround utilization. Bill Conti's jazz score sounds great, though, a bit bass light, and has a wonderful, expansive presence that at times floats in space. Low frequencies are occasionally pronounced though, with .1 LFE and extension to 25 Hz. This is a film soundtrack that is clearly a winner in terms of fidelity and sonic positioning. The sound design is stylistic classic. (Gary Reber)

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