The Matador
3/4
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Philip Baker Hall, Dylan Baker
Rated R for Strong Sexual Content and Language
It isn't long after I started watching "The Matador" that I realized I was in good hands. Many films open with a radio announcer saying "Good morning!" and so on in a voice so cheery that they must be considered early birds by senior citizens. "The Matador" does the same thing, only it starts yelling at the lead character to wake up. The next clue comes a few moments later. Pierce Brosnan empites his bedmate's purse, but only so he can paint his toenails.
"The Matador" is a winning comedy that's nearly undone by the pacing. It's too slow, and the film drags as much as it is being funny. But when it works, it really works. It features two reliable actors giving terrific performances, and there's some ingenious comedy and suspense.
Danny (Kinnear) is an everyman who is desperately trying to get a job in Mexico City. While celebrating a good omen, he meets Julian Noble (Brosnan). After their initial conversation ends on a sour note, Julian invites Danny to a bullfight. That's when he tells Danny that he is, in fact, a hitman. And to prove it to the skeptical Danny, he goes on a mock hit at the bullfight. But Julian is not the most stable of individuals. He drinks too much and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. This makes his boss very nervous, and the only way out requires Danny's help.
Ever since he donned the tuxedo in "GoldenEye," which proved to be one of the best movies in the long running franchise, Pierce Brosnan has proved himself to be a more than capable actor. But he's never done anything like this. Julian is a drunk, sleeps with anything possessing the correct body parts, and has no qualms walking through a hotel lobby in a speedo and cowboy boots (and nothing else). Brosnan plays him with likability and humor, but also a sense of mystery; there are times when we don't know if he is serious or not. And when you're dealing with a hitman, that's a big if.
Greg Kinnear has made a career of being an average guy. It's not as easy as it looks, but Kinnear is wonderful as the small-town guy who married his high school sweetheart, Bean (Davis). When Julian first tells him that he's a hitman, Danny doesn't believe him. But he plays along until he realizes that Julian is serious. But it's his innocence and earnestness that really makes the performance work.
Unfortunately, the film drags, and quite often. Richard Shepard is a good director of actors, but the film is poorly paced and some of his shot choices are questionable at best. And while there is good writing here, it's not enough to bring either Danny or Julian to three-dimensional level, which is where Shepard clearly wants them to be.
All in all, I think it works. If nothing else, Pierce Brosnan's perforamance makes it worth it.
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Philip Baker Hall, Dylan Baker
Rated R for Strong Sexual Content and Language
It isn't long after I started watching "The Matador" that I realized I was in good hands. Many films open with a radio announcer saying "Good morning!" and so on in a voice so cheery that they must be considered early birds by senior citizens. "The Matador" does the same thing, only it starts yelling at the lead character to wake up. The next clue comes a few moments later. Pierce Brosnan empites his bedmate's purse, but only so he can paint his toenails.
"The Matador" is a winning comedy that's nearly undone by the pacing. It's too slow, and the film drags as much as it is being funny. But when it works, it really works. It features two reliable actors giving terrific performances, and there's some ingenious comedy and suspense.
Danny (Kinnear) is an everyman who is desperately trying to get a job in Mexico City. While celebrating a good omen, he meets Julian Noble (Brosnan). After their initial conversation ends on a sour note, Julian invites Danny to a bullfight. That's when he tells Danny that he is, in fact, a hitman. And to prove it to the skeptical Danny, he goes on a mock hit at the bullfight. But Julian is not the most stable of individuals. He drinks too much and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. This makes his boss very nervous, and the only way out requires Danny's help.
Ever since he donned the tuxedo in "GoldenEye," which proved to be one of the best movies in the long running franchise, Pierce Brosnan has proved himself to be a more than capable actor. But he's never done anything like this. Julian is a drunk, sleeps with anything possessing the correct body parts, and has no qualms walking through a hotel lobby in a speedo and cowboy boots (and nothing else). Brosnan plays him with likability and humor, but also a sense of mystery; there are times when we don't know if he is serious or not. And when you're dealing with a hitman, that's a big if.
Greg Kinnear has made a career of being an average guy. It's not as easy as it looks, but Kinnear is wonderful as the small-town guy who married his high school sweetheart, Bean (Davis). When Julian first tells him that he's a hitman, Danny doesn't believe him. But he plays along until he realizes that Julian is serious. But it's his innocence and earnestness that really makes the performance work.
Unfortunately, the film drags, and quite often. Richard Shepard is a good director of actors, but the film is poorly paced and some of his shot choices are questionable at best. And while there is good writing here, it's not enough to bring either Danny or Julian to three-dimensional level, which is where Shepard clearly wants them to be.
All in all, I think it works. If nothing else, Pierce Brosnan's perforamance makes it worth it.
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