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IMDbPro

The Matador

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
46K
YOUR RATING
Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear in The Matador (2005)
Theatrical Trailer from The Weinstein Company
Play trailer2:31
11 Videos
72 Photos
ComedyCrimeThriller
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
46K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Shepard
  • Writer
    • Richard Shepard
  • Stars
    • Pierce Brosnan
    • Greg Kinnear
    • Hope Davis
  • Director
    • Richard Shepard
  • Writer
    • Richard Shepard
  • Stars
    • Pierce Brosnan
    • Greg Kinnear
    • Hope Davis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 243User reviews
    • 185Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 6 nominations

    Videos11

    The Matador
    Trailer 2:31
    Watch The Matador
    The Matador
    Clip 2:03
    Watch The Matador
    The Matador
    Clip 2:50
    Watch The Matador
    The Matador
    Clip 2:10
    Watch The Matador
    The Matador
    Clip 1:49
    Watch The Matador
    The Matador
    Clip 2:31
    Watch The Matador
    The Matador
    Clip 2:25
    Watch The Matador
    The Matador Scene: Is He Dangerous
    Clip 0:39
    Watch The Matador Scene: Is He Dangerous
    The Matador Scene: Lobby
    Clip 0:56
    Watch The Matador Scene: Lobby
    The Matador Scene: Blowing Up The Car
    Clip 0:57
    Watch The Matador Scene: Blowing Up The Car
    The Matador Scene: Mexican Cafe
    Clip 0:45
    Watch The Matador Scene: Mexican Cafe

    Photos72

    Pierce Brosnan in The Matador (2005)
    Philip Baker Hall in The Matador (2005)
    Pierce Brosnan in The Matador (2005)
    Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear in The Matador (2005)
    Philip Baker Hall and Dylan Baker in The Matador (2005)
    Philip Baker Hall and Dylan Baker in The Matador (2005)
    Greg Kinnear in The Matador (2005)
    Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis in The Matador (2005)
    Pierce Brosnan and Azucena Medina in The Matador (2005)
    Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis in The Matador (2005)
    Pierce Brosnan in The Matador (2005)
    Pierce Brosnan and Richard Shepard in The Matador (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Pierce Brosnan
    Pierce Brosnan
    • Julian Noble
    Greg Kinnear
    Greg Kinnear
    • Danny Wright
    Hope Davis
    Hope Davis
    • Carolyn 'Bean' Wright
    Arlin Miller
    • Radio DJ
    • (voice)
    Azucena Medina
    • Young Denver Fling
    Jonah Meyerson
    Jonah Meyerson
    • Ten Year Old Boy
    Wiveca Bonerais
    • Ten Year Old Boy's Mother
    Adam Scott
    Adam Scott
    • Phil Garrison
    Portia Dawson
    Portia Dawson
    • Genevive
    Roberto Sosa
    Roberto Sosa
    • Skinny Mexican Man
    Antonio Zavala Kugler
    • Hotel Bartender 1
    Ramon Alvarez
    • Shooting Stand Owner
    Luz Maria Molina
    • School Girl
    Philip Baker Hall
    Philip Baker Hall
    • Mr. Randy
    Carolyn Horwitz
    • Cantina Turista #1
    Rachel Schwartz
    • Cantina Turista #2
    Jorge Robles
    • Hotel Bartender 2
    Trio Los Rivera
    • Hotel Lobby Musicians
    • Director
      • Richard Shepard
    • Writer
      • Richard Shepard
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sombrero worn by Pierce Brosnan in the film was sold at auction for $22,000.
    • Goofs
      When Julian is telling the story about his first mistake in Manila, the camera can be seen, hidden behind palm leaves and bamboo, when two guys holding a mirror are walking through the frame.
    • Quotes

      Julian Noble: The margaritas always taste better in Mexico.

      Danny Wright: They certainly do.

      Julian Noble: Margaritas and cock.

    • Crazy credits
      "The filmmakers do not condone bullfighting, but respect its long tradition in the Mexican culture. It was extremely important to the producers that no bulls were harmed because of the production of 'The Matador'. In no way did the producers of this film create, arrange or organize any of the bullfights seen within this movie. Sequences staged by the producers employed fake and computer-generated bulls exclusively. Absolutely no animals were harmed by the production of this movie."
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Last Holiday/The Matador/The Libertine (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      A Town Called Malice
      (1982)

      Written by Paul Weller

      Performed by The Jam

      Courtesy of Polydor Ltd. (U.K.)

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews243

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Stunning performance by Brosnan sadly wrapped in a mediocre film
    A hit-man who is The Dude and Bad Santa both at once.

    Pierce Brosnan is at his best and most hilarious in Richard Sherpherd's The Matador (2005), as a booze-drenched over the hill hit-man who loves bullfights, tacky clothes and teenage girls. It is his unapologetic lust for the latter that provide some great laughs in the film.. There is nothing funnier than hearing a sleazy, broken-down version of James Bond exclaim after ogling some Catholic schoolgirls, "God I hate these Catholic countries; it's all blushy blushy, no suckie fuckie."

    So Brosnan has a terrifically dirty mouth in The Matador and this is juxtaposed with Greg Kinnear's goody-goody family man character in their newfound, unlikely friendship. Both these characters elicit real sympathy, but especially Brosnan who should be a very unlikable character, a man desperate for a meaningful relationship in his life but just can't stop himself from saying the wrong things. We follow these two very different men as they learn from each other and start changing their lives, projecting equal doses of heart and humour.

    The Matador effective in the sense that it mixes absurdity and quirkiness just right and glazes it with a dark comedy coating feel. It is also quite funny thanks to its Brosnan performance, but it does not have much in the way of a plot and no other characters or detours are even worth mentioning - so it is sadly very forgettable. Still, if you are even a slight fan of Brosnan's I urge you to see this film which is easily his greatest performance, and it's a crime he wasn't showered with awards for it.

    6.5/10
    helpful•44
    27
    • Flagrant-Baronessa
    • Aug 9, 2006

    FAQ1

    • What's the song on Danny Wright's alarm clock?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 27, 2006 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Ireland
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Production Notes
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Matador
    • Filming locations
      • Centro Histórico, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Stratus Film Co.
      • DEJ Productions
      • Equity Pictures Medienfonds GmbH & Co. KG II
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $12,594,698
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $69,100
      • Jan 1, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,356,268
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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