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The Matador

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The Matador (2005)

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Reviews Counted:146

Fresh:110

Rotten:36

Average Rating:6.7/10

Consensus: This humorously amoral, oddball comic thriller features strong performances by Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear as a flamboyant, aging hit-man and an out of work suburban businessman, respectively.

Rated: 15

Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:03-03-2006

Synopsis: Pierce Brosnan is outstanding as an international hit man falling apart at the seams in Richard Shepard's dark comedy THE MATADOR. Brosnan, riffing on his success playing the very well groomed and... Pierce Brosnan is outstanding as an international hit man falling apart at the seams in Richard Shepard's dark comedy THE MATADOR. Brosnan, riffing on his success playing the very well groomed and genteel James Bond and Remington Steele, stars as Julian Noble, a no-longer-noble hit man who spends his free time getting drunk and chasing impossibly young skirts. In Mexico he meets Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear), an average Joe trying to land an important business deal. Jealous of Danny's simple life, Julian becomes friends with the Denver suburbanite, who married his high school sweetheart, Bean (the very good Hope Davis), but lost his young son in a terrible accident. One day at a bullfight, Julian tells Danny what he does for a living, but Danny doesn't believe him--until Julian shows him an example of his expertise. But when Julian asks Danny to help him with his next assignment, Danny is dead-set against it, and ready to end their brief friendship. Little does he know that he has not seen the last of the rather unique hit man. Writer-director Shepard, whose previous work includes the indie films OXYGEN, MERCY, and THE LINGUINI INCIDENT, shows a deft hand for offbeat comedy in THE MATADOR, a very funny movie with a razor-sharp edge to it. Brosnan and Kinnear make a great duo, the latter the straight man to the former's reckless abandon. Shepard keeps the laughs coming with huge titles announcing the different locations as well as with a brilliant soundtrack featuring songs by Tom Jones and Asia in addition to the Jam, the Killers, and the Cramps--whose "Garbageman" anchors a hysterical scene involving Julian, a can of beer, a pair of Speedos, a hotel lobby, and a shark. [More]

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Dylan Baker

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Dylan Baker, Philip Baker Hall

Director: Richard Shepard, Bob Yari

Director: Richard Shepard
Screenwriter: Richard Shepard
Producer: Pierce Brosnan, Sean Furst, Mark Gordon, Brad Jenkel, Beau St. Clair
Director: Bob Yari
Composer: Rolfe Kent
Studio: Weinstein Company

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Reviews for The Matador

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/27/07
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Demands to be loved in spite of itself and refuses to sugar-coat its characters for its audience. And that'll make it a love it or leave it film; there'll be no sitting on the fence after seeing this.

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
03/11/06
Joe Utichi
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
03/04/06
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

Weird, but watchable.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/24/06
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Slightly more engaging than most, even when the plot starts to stretch rather thin in the final act

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
11/02/05
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

What emerges is a film about friendship, albeit a very unusual friendship, and Shepard fills the screen with bright, rich colours in order to keep the film visually interesting during the frequently hilarious dialogue.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/29/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
11/20/08
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Hollywood.com

...a hip and hilarious dark comedy.

Full Review Source: BrandonFibbs.com | comment Comment
02/28/08
Brandon Fibbs
Brandon Fibbs
BrandonFibbs.com

Brosnan's work as a monster who'd like to become human, but has no idea how, is painfully funny.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/27/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
08/16/07
Ben Walters
Ben Walters
Time Out New York

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

A chemistry-free buddy flick.

Full Review Source: Upstage Magazine | comment Comment
07/02/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
Upstage Magazine

Get past the stunt casting, and The Matador has very little to offer, despite all the hubbub surrounding it.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Daniel Eagan
Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International

But the gold star here goes to Brosnan. His performance digs deep into Julian's soul and it is that depth that makes the performance stand out.

Full Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review | comment Comment
12/13/06
Michael A. Smith
Michael A. Smith
Nolan's Pop Culture Review
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
10/07/06
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com

in an ideal world, The Matador would be the movie to watch on a late Friday afternoon to start relaxing for the weekend

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment Comment
09/10/06
Joseph Proimakis
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

Brosnan's sleazy, broken-spirited hitman Julian Noble nabs the spotlight in Richard Shepard's generally pleasing comic thriller

Full Review Source: Perihelion Journal | comment Comment
08/27/06
Jay Antani
Jay Antani
Perihelion Journal
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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Latest News for The Matador

November 23, 2007: Total Recall: Thank Goodness For Hit Men
This week, Timothy Olyphant stars in Hitman, the tale of a skilled contract killer who finds himself in the midst of deadly political intrigue. Here at RT, we thought it would... More...

September 10, 2007: RT Goes Behind The Lines With The Hunting Party's Richard Shepard
Richard Shepard recently sat down with Rotten Tomatoes to discuss gallows humor, international conspiracy, why wartime cameramen think they're invincible, and (because why not?)... More...

July 30, 2007: Frank Miller Faults Weinsteins for Sin City 2 Delay
While sitting on a Comic Con panel, Frank Miller was asked about the hold-up on Sin City 2. (Numerous times, probably.) And it looks like the celebrated author / artist /... More...

January 26, 2007: Another "Crown" for Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan took a detour into indie productions after hanging up his Bond tux and martini -- most recently in "The Matador" and "Seraphim Falls" -- but... More...

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