The Matador

And we do need reminding, because it's very easy to be seduced by "The Matador" (and to suffer the morning-after contrition). Though bullfighting's opponents are given glancing attention, "The Matador" doesn't pretend to be a dissection of the tradition or a moral assessment of its practitioners. ... Full Review

Whatever preconceptions about bullfighting one might have-peg it a barbaric and detestable blood sport or a beautiful death dance-it's certainly made of the stuff that spews good drama. Meantime, the filmmakers cleverly found a central tug to spice the drama. ... Full Review

I'm immediately wary of movies that try to tackle lesser known historical subjects because the temptation to tweak the story for the benefit of the movie is just too great. Shepard also does a nice job of mixing different elements of action, satire and drama from a clever script, just like he did with his last comedy/action/drama The Matador . ... Full Review

As a result, the film is a sometimes enjoyable, but more often a confused and confusing experience. It's hard to tell whether "The Hunting Party" is supposed to be taken seriously, either in part or in full, because the film is continually ping-ponging between dark satirical humor, thrilling wartime action, and straight-up commentary on both U.S. foreign policy and the news media. ... Full Review

This is dark comedy at its finest. The Matador is one of those great little movies with all the right qualities that ought to make for a breakout hit, but somehow still flew right under most everybody's radar during its brief theatrical run. ... Full Review

Reviewed: September 29th, 2005 The Matador is a quirky, slightly off-kilter and very funny movie. Hope Davis is also quite funny in a small part as Danny's wife who suddenly finds a hitman staying over at her house. ... Full Review

Pierce Brosnan took a bold but calculated risk in taking on the role of hitman Julian in Richard Shepard's contagiously funny and offbeat dark comedy "The Matador," and it certainly paid off. Playing his best role in ages, Brosnan shows off a brilliant comedic side that often is overlooked in his mostly dashing and debonair roles. ... Full Review

Brosnan is a filthy, freewheeling delight as Julian Noble, the "facilitator of fatalities," who serves as the unexpected soul of writer/director Richard Shepard's intriguing but flat comedy/drama The Matador . As offbeat popcorn flicks go, you could do a lot worse than The Matador ; it's nice to see Brosnan let his hair down in a film of some substance (as opposed to slumming with Brett Ratner in paradise) and Kinnear continues to build a solid resume as a gifted character actor. ... Full Review

The Matador hinges on Brosnan's relationship with Kinnear's anal businessman; and their scrapes flit between the fun, the contrived and the self-conscious. Having long bemoaned Bond's buttoned-up conservatism, Brosnan lets rip with a swagger that's clearly been squished under his tux for too long - not least when he strides through a hotel lobby in cowboy boots and Speedos, beer in one hand, fag in the other, and flops into a swimming pool housing a great white shark. ... Full Review

Its success rests solidly on the chemistry of Brosnan and Kinnear and their ability to put closure on their strangers-in-a-strange-land act without succumbing to comedic or dramatic pitfalls. The unwitting target of Julian's novel warm-and-fuzziness is mild-mannered salesman Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear), on business in Mexico City to land a major account for a fledging start-up. ... Full Review