Can a remake of a masterful classic film ever be as good or even better?

That is the big question in Hollywood: which film can we remake to capture the audience of today? I vote for the 1999 remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair” with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, find “Create the Look” of Rene Russo’s looks below.

Pierce Brosnan in the remake of “The Thomas Crown Affair“

In the age of the “rehash” of everything, I wonder why we feel the need to remake a perfect original? Fashion, architecture, art: everything seems to be coming full circle…with people “rediscovering” past treasures and more often than not giving an “interpretation” that pales in comparison to the original. Of course the phenomenon of the “remake” is not new in Hollywood, as early as the 30’s some earlier silent movies were successfully remade. The movie “A Star is Born” was remade three times!

Steve McQueen in the 1968 “The Thomas Crown Affair”: this “look” has not taken one wrinkle!

The original “Thomas Crown Affair” with Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway was a stylish very sexy movie. If you like classic films, this is a great story set in the swinging sixties, with an irresistible Steve McQueen. His “looks” in the film have stood the test of time and some of Faye’s too:

But some of Faye Dunaway’s looks are now, however stylish, retro…

Faye Dunaway in the 1968 “The Thomas Crown Affair”

The 1999 remake with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo is perfect as it does not try to replicate the story, but to tell it in a contemporary setting. The chemistry between Pierce and Rene is electric and the setting in New York still feels just right.

Even the original Michel Legrand song “The Windmills of Your Mind”, interpreted by Sting is just right. The last scene in the Metropolitan Museum with the “bowler-hat-wearing” men, carried by the haunting song “Sinnerman” by Nina Simone is terrific.

Pierce and Rene’s fashion looks and hairstyles from 1999 were also timelessly elegant, Rene was dressed by Michael Kors, designing at the time for the French House of Celine:

“Create the Look”:

 Zara leather pants

Zara 3/4 sleeve T-shirt

Zara sleeveless dress

Zara pearl necklace