The Matador

Pierce Brosnan has played the suave, cool ladies man many times. He was of course James Bond, until they moved on to Daniel Craig. As that sort of stereotypical role, he was charming and handsome and did everything a character like that is supposed to do. The Matador (2005) allows Brosnan to play a sleazy, aging lothario assassin. He's out of shape, wears a greasy mustache and leers at women. Oh and did I mention fantastic. Its a role I've never seen him play and he plays it with gusto.

The film revolves around Julian (Brosnan) an aging hitman, who is coming to terms with his age. He meets Danny (Greg Kinnear) in Mexico and befriends him, revealing he is a hitman. The two part company and six months later, Julian shows up on Danny's doorstep. Julian has botched a few jobs in the intervening time and is now wanted dead. He enlists Danny's help since he freezes up when he is on a job alone.

In the end the movie isn't really interesting as a film about an aging assassin. It is interesting in the relationship between Danny and Julian and eventually Danny's wife, Bean (Hope Davis). They accept him so easily and with such comic effect. The movie was a bit weak on story and had a bit of a sappy ending, but it made me smile. It's the kind of movie one needs once in a while between all the serious Award-fare and the grossout comedies.