The Matador (2005)

Directed by Richard Shepard. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Philip Baker Hall, Adam Scott. [R]

Wry, textured spin on the post-modern Hollywood standby—the “hitman comedy”—is a minor triumph in casting and scope/stakes. Struggling salesman Kinnear encounters an emotionally-foundering contract killer (Brosnan) while on a business trip in Mexico and they become unlikely friends, even after Kinnear learns what his new companion does for a living. Although both actors play slightly against type here—Kinnear sheds himself of smarm, and it would be hard to describe Brosnan as either stylish or polished—the roles feel tailor-made, and each of the players exceed expectations. Davis also excels with a fresh angle on a tired character type (the ball-and-chain attached to one of the bromantic buddies) by making her rational but intrigued by this “stranger danger” who shows up at her doorstep one evening (“Did you bring your gun?” she asks with thinly-veiled excitement). The other key to the film’s success is the way writer/director Shepard’s script holds the focus on the unlikely friendship instead of conventional thriller plotting, and maintains a quirky but sad tone all the way to the end. Perhaps played too safe (a little more edge than offered feels appropriate), and the lack of depth softens the impact of a flashback twist near the end, but this undemanding movie is more than clever and endearing enough to thoroughly enjoy in the moment. Dylan Baker makes a brief appearance in an important role. Brosnan co-produced.

75/100