I always say that I can usually tell if a movie is going to win me over based on the first five minutes alone. I mean any film doesn’t particularly need a shoot out, a mystery, or a hook to keep audiences watching. Sometimes, you just need a good set-up, and damn good dialogue. “The Matador” accomplishes the latter, period. Brosnan is in the park, has a heated exchange with a kid, and a car explodes. That’s a serious fucking hook. I mean Hope Davis, Greg Kinnear, and Pierce Brosnan are decent selling points alone, but “The Matador” is just really good. “The Matador” is based around the notion, that you can never quite understand what’s happening behind every turn. I was left wondering if what I was seeing was as I perceived it. Did Julian and Danny really meet by accident?

Pierce Brosnan’s role as an amoral gun for hire with a penchant for young women is truly entertaining, especially since Brosnan melts away any and all charm in exchange for a charismatic low life who can’t quite keep his pants zipped. Brosnan just completely disappears into this character, and manages to present a respectable sense of humor about himself that makes the film so memorable. Greg Kinnear as a man in a monotonous yet comfortable life really comes face to face with death, once he meets Julian, and he learns to open up more, even growing a mustache as a sense of homage to Julian. What occurs with “The Matador,” a funny and awfully entertaining dark comedy, is ultimately the picture of a killer who gains a conscience. Julian, aging, and tired of the doldrums of his career, finds he just can not kill people, and he no idea why. But we know what he can’t accept. Perhaps he’s gaining a conscience. There’s no real spectacle behind “The Matador,” except the rousing performances behind our trio, and the oddly compelling transformation of amoral sleaze to worthwhile human being.

I'm glad David Shephard's "The Matador" ended up living up to the hype that preceded it. With great performances, including a scene stealing show stopper from Brosnan, and tight direction, this is a great crises of conscience tale.

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