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Recent releases:
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- Jericho Ridge
- Civil War
- Mothers' Instinct
- Sweet East, The
- Ghost Busters: Frozen Empire
- Immaculate
- Roaring Twenties, The (reissue)
- Soul
- Dune: part two
- American Star
- Dune: Part 1 (reissue)
- Jerry & Marge Go Large
- Argylle
- Forever Young
- Jackdaw
- All of Us Strangers
- Holdovers, The
- Mean Girls
- Poor Things
Matador, The
Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Philip Baker Hall
Director: Richard Shepard
Quite apart from containing Brosnan's finest film portrayal, this is a class act.
Brosnan, as Julian, a weary hit-man, bonds with failed salesman danny (Kinnear) in Mexico. A disbelieving Danny is drawn into the laconic assassin's bizarre world - and, months later, when Julian turns up on his doorstep to meet Danny's wife (wonderful Davis), the sales guy will prove his salvation.
This offbeat offering is good from first frame to last and, despite the subject, will leave you with a good feeling at the end. Brosnan is just pitch perfect, while Kinnear effortlessly delivers a truly great performance as the hit-man's unexpected comrade-in-arms.
David Quinlan
USA 2005. UK Distributor: Buena Vista. Colour by FotoKem.
97 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.
Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 2, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 1, Swearing 2.
Review date: 31 Dec 2006