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

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 5 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

hitman | bisexual man | mexico city | bar | mexico | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Production Notes

Country:

Ireland Germany USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

27 January 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Matador

Filming Locations:

Camino Real Hotel, Mexico City, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$92,312, 1 January 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$12,594,698, 30 March 2006

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,297,244, 6 October 2006

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

For Greg Kinnear, working alongside Hope Davis, who portrays his wife Carolyn "Bean" Wright, was all the preparation Kinnear needed for his role. He said: "'Richard Shepard cast this beautiful woman who just radiates, glows, and has such a presence. There's great strength in Danny and Bean's relationship, and Hope's a very strong woman. She's exactly what this character needed. She is at the emotional core of everything that's going on in this relationship between Julian and Danny."

---

Goofs

When Danny meets Julian in the bar, in the close-up, he's holding his drink by the glass; in the wider shot, he's suddenly holding it by the stem.

---

Quotes

Julian Noble: The margaritas always taste better in Mexico.
Danny Wright: They certainly do.
Julian Noble: Margaritas and cock.

---

Crazy Credits

For my Dad, who loved movies.

---

Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Last Holiday/The Matador/The Libertine (2006)

---

Soundtracks

Querre Que
Performed by Trio Los Rivera

User Reviews

All sass and no blood; movie shows Pierce Brosnan's comedic flair

"The Matador" stars Pierce Brosnan as a burned out assassin. He's James Bond gone to seed, in too-tight, garish clothes, gold chains, and an ugly haircut. Our struggling assassin, Julian Noble, is in Mexico, trying to regain his nerve. Staying at the same hotel is a likable, down-on-his luck businessman Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear), also trying to regain his equilibrium. Danny is desperate to close a deal and return to his wife in Denver (Hope Davis) with good news.

Noble and Wright unexpectedly become friends. Wright convinces Noble to reveal certain techniques, which he demonstrates at a bullfight. Noble is eventually targeted by his employers and shows up in Denver.

Writer and director Richard Shepard did the Q&A after this delightful movie at the Austin Film Festival. Shepard was also down on his luck. After suffering the loss of his agent and rejection of recent scripts, he decided to write a story no one would buy and create a character no one would want to play. Then Pierce Brosnan called. Brosnan regains his equilibrium in this movie. (There is life after Bond!) He has a wonderful flair for self-deprecating comedy. Don't miss it.

Stay for the closing credits to read what the filmmakers say about bullfighting. I look forward to more of Richard Shepard's projects.