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     I didn't want to see this movie for 3 main reasons.  Out of those 3, only one of them turned out to be a problem.  The two reasons that ended up not being that bad were, Rene Russo's acting and the fact that the hero is a criminal.

     I never have like Rene Russo that much.  I especially didn't like her when she played the tough, sexy roles.  I never thought it suited her.  However, I think this is one of her better performances.  I still don't think that she's that good of an actress, but she wasn't bad.

     Now, I have a trouble with most movies that make the hero out to be a criminal.  A prime example is Grosse Pointe Blank.  I find so many scenes of that movie funny but it takes a lot for me to like the movie as a whole because the hero is an assassin.  I do like that movie though because the assassin doesn't want to stay in the business.  In the previews, I could see that Pierce Brosnan was going to be a thief and that made me hesitant to watch it.  However, as someone was kind enough to point out to me, after seeing the movie, Pierce Brosnan's character is not violent in any way and he does steal simply because he wants to prove that he can.  He's not a mean spirited person, he doesn't kill people, he doesn't maliciously harm anyone.

     Alright, the part of the movie that I figured I wouldn't like and I didn't:  The sex.  I really don't think that sex has to be plastered on the movie screen.  I mean, for heaven's sake!  Leave some of it up to the imagination, will you?!?  Personally, having Rene Russo's chest flaunted and zoomed in on like it was a co-star was not my cup of tea.  And trying to be fair, I'm sure the males in the audience could've done without Pierce Brosnan's rear end shoved in their faces.  Now, if they want to show that the two characters are intimate, sexual, hot and heavy, and steamy to say the least, that's fine.  However, we didn't need to see a 10 minute long production throwing the couple on the desk, on the floor, on the stairs, on another floor, on another part of the stairs and wherever else the director saw fit to show them having sex.  If I wanted to see this, I would watch a porno.  It wasn't needed and all it did was suck up screen time.  I understand the need to show that the two have sex, but that can be done well in less than a minute.

     One other complaint I heard was that the movie was slow.   I didn't think it was slow, however, I did think that there were a lot of scenes that could've been shortened i.e. the airplane glider scene.

     Ok, the good things about this movie.  The acting was decent and the writing was ok.  I thought the story was well thought out and planned and I must say that even though he was a criminal, I couldn't help but admire Pierce Brosnan's character for his ingenuity and his ability to think ahead.  Yeah, there are a few snags in the little parts of the story...like how realistic is it that noone would see him slide under the gate after stealing the painting.  But beyond that and a few other tiny things, this movie is well planned and has lots of twists and turns and keeps you on your feet.  Watch out for the bowler hat scene!!!  What a great idea.  I won't spoil it, but job well done writers.  I haven't seen the original movie, but I hope it's as enjoyable as this one.

     So, why the grade?  Good story.  Mediocre acting.   Ok writing.  Too much of Rene Russo's chest (or for the males...Pierce Brosnan's rear end).