JimBell Blog

The Matador

Under discussion:
The Matador (2005)

Under discussion:

The Matador (2005)

The Matador (2005) is really good, but you have to be careful who you recommend it to. A struggling, straight-laced corporate businessman (Greg Kinnear) is in Mexico bidding for a contract when he bumps into a guy (Pierce Brosnan) pretty much his opposite: a killer for hire. Some months later, the businessman is enjoying success, his marriage is working wonderfully (Hope Davis), and suddenly the assassin rings the door bell looking for asylum and help. I had heard that this was a comedy, but the main comic element is the premise: A conservative middle manager becomes friends with an amoral assassin. Beneath the witty dialogue and the comic patina, the movie is deadly serious. For one thing, the killer is a nasty piece of work—no manners, not interpersonal skills, no friends, no morals.. There is a sense of menace and of a man out of control. For another thing, the relation between the two men may lead to no good for either of them.

The acting by all three principals is great, and the plot has several surprising yet plausible twists—all of which gets you cheering for the unlikely buddies until, maybe after the movie is over, your realize what they have done. This is a most adult and most challenging movie.

Jim Bell

posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 3:47 PM by JimBell

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QFLW
Posted Sunday, April 01, 2007 11:40 PM

Excellent summation -- absolutely agree about the challenge of this film. Yet I liked it very much; even the soundtrack caught my attention.

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