Director: Richard Shepard
Writer: Richard Shepard (Screenplay)
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Adam Scott, Philip Baker Hall
Plot: A globetrotting hitman and a crestfallen businessman meet in a hotel bar in Mexico City in an encounter that draws them together in a way neither expected.
Tagline – A hitman and a salesman walk into a bar…
Runtime: 1 Hour 36 Minutes
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Fun Crime Comedy
Story: The Matador starts as we meet womanising lonely hitman Julian Noble (Brosnan) and upstart business man Danny Wright (Kinnear), the two are both in Mexico for work and meet in the hotel bar, where the two bond.
When the two go their separate ways, 6 months later Julian facing a crisis of conscience the normal couple of Danny and his wife Bean (Davis) find themselves in the middle of a battle they weren’t ready for.
Thoughts on The Matador
Characters – Julian Noble is the womanising hitman, he travels around the world for work, getting a woman in any city and enjoying way too many drinks. On his latest assignment he learns that it is his birthday which makes him reflect on his lonely life putting his career and reputation on the line. Danny Wright is a rising businessman about to close a deal which will put his company on the map, he befriends Julian as a new form of excitement in his life and now he just can’t get rid of him. Bean is Danny’s wife, we only see her interest in the stories of Julian. Mr Randy is the handler of Julian’s he sets up the jobs through the film.
Performances – Pierce Brosnan is great in this leading role, he gets to have a lot of fun with a character that could do anything with his next action. Greg Kinnear is good in his role as we know this style of comedy is well within his strength, the supporting cast are good even though they don’t get too much do.
Story – The story follows a hitman that is going off his game and a businessman that is at a big crossroads in his life that meet and strike up the unlikely friendship to help themselves find the best part of their lives. It does play out part buddy movie and part serious, showing everything that friends can be made from the unlikely places. The story does have good twists along the way and some great scenes that give us moments or laughter and sadness.
Action/Crime/Comedy – The action here is the weakest part of the film because well there isn’t enough or barely any. The comedy comes from just what Julian will do next, because certain times it is hilarious other times strange and the extra laughs come from just how Danny will react to moments. The crime side of the film shows us the world the Julian works in.
Settings – The film starts in Mexico which works for the new friendship, then we go across to different locations around the world which don’t work as well.
Scene of the Movie – Swimming pool entry.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Not enough from the supporting characters.
Final Thoughts – This is a fun crime comedy that gets the best of out Brosnan who steals every single scene.
Overall: Enjoyable comedy
Rating
