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Film Review: The Matador
Lenny Manzo - wrote on 01/17/10
Here’s a movie that really slipped through the cracks, The Matador with Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis. A chance meeting in a bar changes the lives of two men forever. A hit man meets a businessman in a chance encounter and forms a friendship, which makes for an excellent black comedy.
This is quite a different role for Pierce: he’s not his usual aristocratic self. His character is more on the repulsive and obnoxious side, yet still likable. It is a great role for him, he stretches his range and does some of his best work. Kinnear and Davis handle their assignments equally well. I had the chance to work with Ms. Davis in 1996 on Next Stop Wonderland. She was a pleasure to work with. She brings a unique touch to each roll she plays and pushes to find the subtleties of her character. Kinnear also does a great job as the relationship between him and Brosnan morphs in status.
Though a wacky theme, one which I embrace, the film is also about friendship and loyalty. Richard Shepard wrote and directed this off beat comedy. Not very well known in the business at the time he was able to get the script to Brosnan who wisely accepted the role. It is a solid well crafted film with a few unexpected twists that keep the film exciting all the way to the end. It’s a great choice to curl up on a Saturday night with beer and popcorn.
To find out more about Lenny Manzo you can visit him at his website, www.lennymanzo.com
