Film review: The Matador

Like bank robbers, hit men belong to that breed of cinematic criminal that is always a bit charming, rather than the scum they are likely to be in real life. In Bruges, Wild Target and Red have mined the friendly-hit-men-on-one-last-job genre for blackly comic material in recent years. But while the latter two somewhat misfired (ha ha), The Matador, like In Bruges, was more on target (ho ho). It’s a few years old now, but getting a run out at Cinema Union this week.

Also like In Bruges, this offbeat action comedy is astutely cast. Our jaded hit man Julian is Pierce Brosnan, who has to draw on all his Bond charisma and leading man looks for his character to get away with this much murder and misogyny. Bumbling along beside him is Danny, played by Greg

Kinnear, a hapless everyman salesman hoping to secure the big contract that he and his wife are relying on to stay afloat financially.
Kinnear has struggling ordinary Joe off pat (see the wonderful Little Miss Sunshine if you haven’t already), and he and Brosnan (who got an Oscar nod for his role) complement each other capably.

Julian and Danny strike up an unlikely, almost Lost in Translation-ish friendship while staying in a trendy Mexico City hotel for business, respectively an assassination and a sales pitch. The Matador – whose title comes from a bullfight they attend – makes good use of this and other locations, which add a colorful backdrop to the story, supported by an energetic soundtrack.

It’s not an entirely satisfying film – Julian might be handsome and amiable, but he still kills strangers for money. A comparison made at the bullfight – that the bull is lucky if it’s dispatched cleanly by a professional because the death is honorable – doesn’t really hold water: yes, it’s probably better to be killed instantly than in a botched job, but surely it’s better still not to be killed at all? A few of the one-liners and background scenes verge on the misogynistic, and – unsurprisingly in a hit man movie – proceedings can get rather violent.

But leaving aside this moral murkiness, The Matador is an understated, quirky movie. Julian’s bonding with Danny and his wife and the twists in the two men’s bromance hold the attention despite the film’s leisurely pace, and if you enjoy black comedy there is a lot to laugh at here.

While at times, especially towards the end, The Matador veers towards cliché and sentiment, overall it feels like a fresh film, one that takes risks and doesn’t pander to the lowest common denominator audience. A subtle treatment, unusual premise and fine performances mean the movie kills you softly rather than blasts you away.

Directed by: Richard Shepard
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis
On at: Cinema Union, Mon (16.00), Tues (18.00), Thurs (20.00), Sat (18.00), Sun (16.00)