Brosnan plays Julian Noble, a ruthless, jet-setting assassin or "facilitator of fatalities" as he is known in the trade.
So far so James Bond? Yes, but that's where the similarities end as Julian turns out to be foul mouthed, bisexual, alcoholic who is more at home telling dirty jokes in brothels than spouting pithy one-liners in Monte Carlo casinos.
In fact, he admits his favourite holiday destination is the Philippines because "the guys look like chicks, it's fucking fantastic."
Funnily enough though this heady mix of killing, fornicating and boozing has left Julian feeling emotionally bereft and his sharp shooting skills are beginning to suffer. In fact, after one fuck up too many his high power employees decide enough is enough and put a contract out on his head.
It looks like the end is in (an assassin's) sight for Julian until he meets mild mannered salesman Danny (Kinnear) in a hotel bar one night and they strike up an unlikely, and ultimately life changing, friendship.
They say:
Total Film: " It may be more Hunter S Thompson than 007, but Brosnan pulls it off with a confidence that suggests he won't be missing his PPK anytime soon. Bye-bye to Bond, then. With bells on."
Guardian: "This odd couple comedy thriller has nice characters and situations: unfortunately, writer-director Richard Shephard doesn't have much idea where to go with them."
Empire: "We’ve never seen Pierce Brosnan so liberated — he’s a man reborn, and for what The Matador may lack in rounded plotting, it makes up for in funny, spiky, idiosyncratic glee."
We say:
Brosnan proved in 2001's The Tailor of Panama that he can do "down and dirty" just as competently as "suave and sophisticated" and he is on career best form here shagging prostitutes and swearing at kids.
He delivers his comic barbs with a deadly accuracy that would make any decent Matador proud, and looks much more comfortable than when delivering glib one liners in the recent Bond misfires.
Newcomer writer/ director Richard Shepard infuses the film with a quirky style reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino and Roberto Rodriguez and is responsible for a host of laugh out loud quotes such as "I hate these catholic countries. All blushy, blushy, no fucky, fucky."
Praise should also go to Kinnear who combines with Brosnan to make an odd but surprisingly endearing couple.
Extras:
The usual. An audio commentary from the director, alternate opening, deleted scenes and a making of.
CAST
Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear
Hope Davis, Philip Baker Hall
DIRECTOR
Richard Shepard
TIME
96 mins
POSTED...
Wed 8 Mar 2006 at 1:54pm
