Audiences seeking mild diversion might prefer approaching it as Lola does her new surroundings: ‘The challenge is to find joy in simple things’.
After the Sunset (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:135
Fresh:25
Rotten:110
Average Rating:4.4/10
Consensus: A slick but bland thriller.
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: The high-stakes action comedy After The Sunset begins where most great heist movies end – with a pair of master thieves escaping to a tropical paradise to enjoy the spoils of their labor. But when... The high-stakes action comedy After The Sunset begins where most great heist movies end – with a pair of master thieves escaping to a tropical paradise to enjoy the spoils of their labor. But when an FBI agent, who has pursued them for seven years, becomes convinced that they are actually plotting to pull off a million-dollar theft from a nearby "diamond cruise," a riveting game of cat and mouse begins. Max "The King of Alibis" Burdett (Pierce Brosnan) and his beautiful accomplice Lola (Salma Hayek) have come to Paradise Island in the Bahamas, fresh off their final big score in which they lifted the second of the three famous Napoleon diamonds. With their financial future set, the couple is ready to relax and enjoy their hard-earned riches. But Stan (Woody Harrelson), the FBI agent who has spent years in dogged but failed pursuit of Max, refuses to believe that his nemesis is actually calling it quits. He thinks that Max and Lola are actually plotting to steal the third Napoleon diamond – one of the three largest non-flawed diamonds in the world – which is coincidentally scheduled to arrive on Paradise Island as part of a touring cruise ship exhibition. Since he has no jurisdiction in the Caribbean country, Stan teams with a local cop (Naomie Harris) and sets out to catch the sly Max and Lola in the act, while at the same time a local gangster (Don Cheadle) has his own plans for the diamond. When the longtime adversaries meet up in paradise, Max quickly turns the tables and befriends the frustrated detective, showing him that Paradise Island has no shortage of pleasures to offer. But in order for Stan to figure out exactly what Max and Lola are up to, he will have to navigate all the twists and double-crosses of an action-packed story of friendship, suspicion and thievery. New Line Cinema presents After the Sunset, directed by Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2, Red Dragon). The cast features Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek and Woody Harrelson, as well as Don Cheadle (Ocean’s 11) and Naomie Harris (28 Days Later). The screenplay is by Paul Zbyszewski and Craig Rosenberg (Jurassic Park 3), from a story by Zbyszewski. The producers are Beau Flynn (Tigerland, Requiem For A Dream), Tripp Vinson and Jay Stern (Rush Hour), with Patrick Palmer (Blade 2, Hellboy) serving as executive producer. The behind-the-scenes team includes two-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Dante Spinotti, ASC, AIC (The Insider, LA Confidential, Heat) and editor Mark Helfrich, ACE (Rush Hour 2, Family Man), both of whom worked with director Brett Ratner on Red Dragon. Other key crew includes production designer Geoffrey Kirkland (Mississippi Burning, Angela’s Ashes) and costume designer Rita Ryack (A Beautiful Mind, Cat in the Hat). New Line Cinema will release After the Sunset (rated PG-13 by the MPAA for "sexuality, violence and language") nationwide on November 12th, 2004. [More]
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Don Cheadle
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Don Cheadle, Naomie Harris
Director: Brett Ratner
Director: Brett Ratner
Screenwriter: Paul Zbyszewski, Craig Rosenberg
Producer: Beau Flynn, Jay Stern, Tripp Vinson
Composer: Lalo Schifrin
Studio: New Line Cinema
Reviews for After the Sunset
As guilty pleasures go, this is as good as three rum punches on a hot afternoon at a beach bar. It won't do you any good, but hey, it's a lot of fun.
Light-hearted, enjoyable caper flick that gets good mileage from both its stunning locations and its equally stunning cast.
The combo of exotic lady and exotic location fails to distract from varying and unsuccessful attempts to blend romance and comedy with half-hearted heist intrigue.
The mix of thievery intrigue, humor, exotic slacking and animal attraction are a classy recipe for stealing audience affections.
After the Sunset is the sort of movie that may not find its ideal audience until channel-surfing insomniacs discover it late some evening, long, long after sunset indeed.
The dialogue mimics the terseness [of Elmore Leonard's work] without the snap or humor. Almost every word sounds recycled from another movie.
Folks who like these actors will probably have fun with the film. Just don’t go in with high expectations, as the script and direction are merely average.
Beautiful to look at (particularly any scene containing Salma Hayek) and has a zippy energy, but there's nothing going on underneath its attractive surface.
What you get with this film is an unoriginal concept using the backdrop of a resort to lure us to see a heist film where our time is only thing that was stolen.
Like a holiday page-turner, there’s nothing terribly profound in this heist movie cum-comedy, but the characters are likeable and it’s easy on the eye.
Devoid of a clever script and truly charismatic chemistry, it plays out as one big, glossy yawn.
Latest News for After the Sunset
July 19, 2006:
Will Naomie Harris Do "28 Weeks Later"?
From "28 Days Later" to "After the Sunset" to "Pirates 2" to "Miami Vice," the lovely and talented Naomie Harris kinda came out of... More...
May 25, 2006:
Critical Consensus: "X-Men: The Last Stand" On Shaky Ground
We've only got one wide release this week, but it's a biggie: "X-Men: The Last Stand." Brett Ratner is at the helm, virtually all the principle characters are back,... More...
April 26, 2006:
Who Wants to Fly X-Class?
OMG you'll never guess who got a new jet! Nope, not Paris Hilton's dog-walker's secretary. The X-Men! Yup, it's slick, fast, shiny, packed with all sorts of nifty new gizmos ...... More...
August 24, 2005:
Danny Boyle's "Sun" Begins to Shine
Thanks to ComingSoon.net for sharing a press release from Fox Searchlight regarding Danny Boyle's "Sunshine" -- and the fact that it began shooting yesterday. More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| 19% 19% | Transformers: Revenge … |
| 55% 55% | Orphan |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 88% 88% | Ballast |
| 66% 66% | The Merry Gentleman |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- After the Sunset at Rotten Tomatoes
- After the Sunset at IGN
- After the Sunset at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

