The Matador

B+

The Matador is an interesting story about a sleazy-looking Pierce Brosnan playing an aging hit man. While on a job in Mexico, he runs into the affable, struggling businessman Greg Kinnear who chooses to strike up a conversation with him while they are in a hotel bar. Other than that, I don't know what else this movie is really about. You have Brosnan's character kind of jealous of Kinnear's normal life and his loving wife to go home to. And Kinnear is jealous of Brosnan's confidence and life of danger. Still, neither wants to be the other by any means.

I guess this is a character study more than anything else, though that usually connotes a boring movie where nothing happens. This movie isn't boring and a lot happens, but it still lacks any kind of real plot. It is fun watching Brosnan's lack of any kind of social graces. And Kinnear plays the admiring puppy dog very well. There are some great scenes as the two interact and again when Brosnan meets Kinnear's wife. As they get to know each other we're getting to know both of them as well. It isn't a roll-on-the-floor comedy, but it is a well-crafted story that reminds me some of Gross Pointe Blank (without the romance) and is certainly a step above broader, but maybe not as funny comedies like The Whole Nine Yards.

I enjoyed it. I'll give it a B+

P.S.: In case you haven't seen it and are queasy about bullfights . . . although they have bullfighting they don't show anything gory. In fact they don't show anyone getting killed either. The whole movie is about violence, but somehow is kind of nonviolent.

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