The Matador (2005)

A globetrotting hitman and a crestfallen businessman meet in a hotel bar in Mexico City in an encounter that draws them together in a way neither expected.

Director:

Richard Shepard

Writer:

Richard Shepard

Stars:

Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pierce Brosnan	...	Julian Noble
Arlin Miller	...	Radio DJ (voice)
Azucena Medina	...	Young Denver Fling
Jonah Meyerson	...	Ten Year Old Boy
Wiveca Bonerais	...	Ten Year Old Boy's Mother
Greg Kinnear	...	Danny Wright
Hope Davis	...	Carolyn 'Bean' Wright
Adam Scott	...	Phil Garrison
Portia Dawson	...	Genevive
Roberto Sosa	...	Skinny Mexican Man
Antonio Zavala Kugler	...	Hotel Bartender 1
Ramon Alvarez	...	Shooting Stand Owner
Luz Maria Molina	...	School Girl
Philip Baker Hall	...	Mr. Randy
Carolyn Horwitz	...	Cantina Turista #1

Storyline

A chance encounter between a travelling salesman and a lonely hitman triggers a strangely profound relationship which provokes each to act in ways neither would have imagined possible. Fate steps in to form a friendship between two men from irreconcilable worlds that will alter the lives of both forever.

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Plot Keywords:

hitman | bisexual man | gunsight | man wears briefs | man wears eyeglasses | 

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Taglines:

A hitman and a salesman walk into a bar...

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Pierce Brosnan plays a character named "Julian Noble" in this film. Brosnan portrayed a character named "Ian Dunross" in the television miniseries, Noble House (1988).

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Goofs

Danny's taken out of his house by Julian to talk in his car, the bonnet and roof are covered in snow but the windows are clear yet all the other cars nearby are completely covered. The windows have obviously been cleared so that the cameras can see the two men talking inside.

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Quotes

Julian Noble: I wouldn't do that for all the teenage twat in Thailand.

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Crazy Credits

For my Dad, who loved movies.

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Connections

Featured in The Making of The Matador (2006)

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Soundtracks

Malaquena
Traditional
Produced by Nick South

User Reviews

Humorous and multi-location story with a hit-man at the core.

The delivery of some very humorous rude lines by Pierce Brosnan is alone worth the price of admission. He plays a kind of "James Bond's psycho twin brother", separated at birth, no doubt. As an intense hit-man, his character is very sexual but even better, very funny. Add the kind-hearted, uber-likable American "guy next door', Greg Kinnear, to set up contrast. The myriad locations, vivid colors, and quick-witted humor provide great entertainment. Hope Davis is well cast as the "gem of a wife". But the focus of the film is on the two fellows, a new "Odd Couple", and that's the part that works very well. Have a great (probably R-rated) laugh, and look for the places where the story goes a little deeper.

Details

Official Sites:

Production Notes

Country:

Ireland Mexico Germany USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

27 January 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Matador

Filming Locations:

Camino Real Hotel, Mexico City, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$12,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$69,100, 1 January 2006

Gross USA:

$12,594,698

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,356,268

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stratus Film Co., DEJ Productions, Equity Pictures Medienfonds GmbH & Co. KG II

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1