If you think you know Pierce Brosnan, think again. The stylish, phlegmatic British gentleman, James Bond, is no more. In The Matador, Brosnan is Julian Noble, an unsavory hitman sent all over the world to ‘facilitate fatalities’. Noble is anything but. He’s an asocial, alcoholic, middle-age killer, whose social life is limited to nights with hookers. ‘Matador’ means ‘killer’ in Spanish, and killing is what Noble does best. But even hitman get the blues, and Noble suffers a middle-age crisis; he senses the shallowness of his life; becomes depressed; fails to do his job. Of course, this leads to some serious consequences. Despite the nature of the story, this is not an action film; rather, it is drama laced with black comedy. With a well-written script, a wicked soundtrack, great performances and slick photography, this film is a sure hit, if you’ll excuse the pun. The real draw though is Brosnan’s portrayal of an inept, sleazy killer, and it’s evident that the actor enjoyed the part, meticulously deconstructing his screen persona. Check out the scene in the posh hotel lobby and you’ll understand why he was nominated for Best Comedy Actor at the 2006 Golden Globe awards.
The Weinstein Company

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
March 2006 issue



(c)that's Guangzhou
Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
March 2006 issue