The Matador

Pierce Brosnan leaves James Bond behind in Richard Shepard's The Matador, where he plays Julian Noble, an international hitman who's been loosing it lately, and he finds a friend in Greg Kinnear's Danny Wright while in Mexico for a job. A buddy comedy about middle-age men bonding, but with a thriller sideplot, the movie is really fun.

I have to describe Julian better, because on paper it doesn't seem at all that this is a departure from the man that liked his martini shaken, not stirred, but it is. Julian is a sleazy, dirty man, going after teenage girls, delivering some crazy dialogue about nailing girls behind the Gap, he's amazing. And Brosnan plays him no holds barred, with the ugly mustache and the beer belly showing. Then Kinnear's Danny is a regular guy, a small time salesman in business in Mexico City. He meets Julian in the bar, and after the two of them form a friendship over their problems (Julian is having problems concentrating lately in his jobs, Danny is not sure he'll get the account he came to Mexico to get) and alcohol, he ends up helping Julian and Julian ends up helping him. Also in the story is Hope Davis (American Splendor, Proof) who plays Danny's wife Bean. She's funny, and when she first meets Julian all she wants is to see his gun. Hope Davis is excellent in the 20 or so minutes she gets here. Very funny and a radiant beauty, though still looking like a regular woman.
Great performances from all of them.

The movie has great dialogue and excellent direction courtesy of Shepard. And a great cinematography too from David Tattersall (the Star Wars prequels, The Green Mile), with great shots of Mexico City, especially the aerial ones of the Plaza de Toros and the actual bullfighting. Great colorful shots very well taken there. Funny, entertaining, and character driven, there's not much to say about The Matador other than recommend it.