The Matador

The Matador is a lightweight but entertaining black comedy revolving around two disparate characters that become unlikely friends. Julian (Pierce Brosnan) is a burnt-out hitman who’d like nothing more than to hang up his silencer for good, while Danny (Greg Kinnear) is a well-meaning salesman who worries that his wife (played by Hope Davis) is going to leave him if business doesn’t pick up soon. Written and directed by Richard Shepard, The Matador moves at a brisk pace and features a pair of exceedingly enjoyable performances – with Brosnan particularly effective playing a character that couldn’t be further away from James Bond. Shepard’s script is peppered with a number of genuinely funny moments, and the inclusion of a couple of surprising plot twists towards the conclusion keeps things interesting. And while there’s no denying that The Matador is the sort of movie one forgets about moments after it’s ended, the movie’s breezy vibe quickly proves to be irresistible (particularly smack-dab in the middle of a day rife with intense dramas and searing documentaries).

*** out of ****