DVD REVIEW: "The Matador"
POSTED
ON
06/30/06 AT 4:30 A.M.
By Brandon Fibbs
I really wanted to like The Matador. And I guess I did...technically.
I was hoping for something that it wasn’t--a sort of Leon: The Professional
meets Gross Point Blank. It was more, well, it was its own thing...an
original. And that’s admirable, come to think of it. If I should level criticism
anywhere, perhaps it should be at my expectations. Because while it wasn’t
a great film and for one reason or another didn’t fully “work”
for me, The Matador was still a hip and hilarious dark comedy.
THE MOVIE
If you’re planning to watch The Matador with the expectation
of seeing Pierce Brosnan in all of his Bondian glory, think again. This is Brosnan
exorcizing his Bond demons--and doing it in such a way that he gives one of the
best performances of his career.
Brosnan play Julian Noble, a crude and crass freelance assassin who happens to
bump into mild-mannered business man Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear) in a Mexican
cantina late one night. Both men are at a crossroad in their lives and careers
and while they are the last people anyone would expect to form a friendship (most
of all, themselves), it’s amazing what a few margaritas and some honesty
can lead to. Down on his luck Danny is intrigued by Julian’s profession
and lonely Julian yearns for the stability and love provided by a marriage like
Danny and his wife, Bean’s.
They part ways in Mexico, never expecting to see one another again. But several
months later, on a snowy evening in Denver, Julian shows up on Danny’s doorstep,
on the verge of a nervous breakdown and needing a place to stay. He botched a
job, is now being hunted himself, and Danny is the only person who can help set
it right.
The Matador is a low-key buddy comedy that functions in writer-director
Richard Shepard's offbeat script as a uneven character study. Uneven or not, it
allows Kinnear and Brosnan some incredibly funny moments and led to Brosnan being
nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as a tormented yet likable killer.
SOUND AND VISUALS The Matador is presented in Widescreen format, preserving the
original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio. The audio is presented in English Dolby
Digital 5.1. Subtitles are available in English and Spanish.
The Matador--the lion’s share of which takes place in
Mexico City--is a film awash in iridescent color. The visual transfer perfectly
captures this vibrancy while also nailing the lavish use of shifting shadows
and darkness that takes up the rest of the film. The sound transfer is clean
and satisfactory.
PACKAGING AND LAYOUT The Matador is presented in a simple keepcase with lock-tabs.
The cover art is an annoying image of Brosnan with his gun out and Kinnear looking
the part of a tough guy. The silhouette of a naked woman stands behind them
both, framed by a fiery explosion.
Normally I wouldn’t go into this much detail, but the image is wholly
inappropriate and obviously the brain-child of a marketing department that wasn’t
sure how to sell the DVD. The cover says action/adventure while The
Matador is less about action and more about comic introspection. The
backside includes stills from the film, and the usual summery of plot, bonus
features and pertinent technical specifications.
The menu screens, for the most part, are simple and easy to navigate, though
several include text which is too small to read from across a room.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Commentary by director/writer Richard Shepard: Shepard thought The Matador
was going to be a tiny independent film until Pierce Brosnan managed to get
his hands on the script and insisted on both staring in it and producing it,
intent on purging his James Bond persona. The film was a difficult balancing
act between seriousness and comedy and Shepard admits that he wasn’t sure
if audience would accept Pierce Brosnan as a pathetic, emotionally unstable
has-been. Neither was Pierce--he almost dropped out. While the film trots all
over the globe, Shepard reveals that the production never left Mexico City--an
admirable feat considering eastern Europe and snow-blanketed Colorado feature
heavily in the film. This and Pierce Brosnan dressed as a cheerleader make this
commentary an enjoyable and informative experience.
Commentary by Richard Shepard with actors Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear: Get
ready for two hours of jovial and good-natured ribbing between three guys who
obvious had a good time making this movie and became genuine friends. Learn
why actress Hope Davis had to wear baggy clothes throughout production, why
Greg Kinnear was worried about getting kidnapped in Mexico City, Pierce’s
gambling problem, fake mushdashes, and recollections on the Sundance premiere.
Deleted and extended scenes with optional commentary by Richard Shepard: These
11 scenes, lasting approximately 17 minutes in length, are prime examples of
why trimming or excising altogether can really make a film better. Most, in
fact, are simply extended scenes and focus mostly on characterization, particularly
Julian’s.
"Making The Matador" featurette (7 min): I hate these sorts of featurettes.
There is nothing remotely about the “making of” this film. That
would imply exposition on locations, cinematography and the like. Instead, this
is a lovefest in which the cast and a select number of crew members lavish adulation
on each other. Nothing wrong with that--just don’t call it a “making
of.”
Audio-only "The Business and the Treatment" radio program discussing
The Matador: Two very lengthy and very informative radio programs
from NPR and film critic Elvis Mitchell focus on how this film came to be made
and travel with the cast and crew to Sundance for its premiere. Without any
corresponding video, these pieces require extra patience, but are rewarding
to those willing to sit through them.
Trailer
TV spot
Previews: Transamerica, Hoodwinked, Mrs. Henderson Presents, and The Libertine.
TORO TORO!
Fans of the hilarious Greg Kinnear or the ever-impressive Pierce Brosnan will
find this film irresistible. It’s worth watching just to see Brosnan make
a total and complete break from the icon we’ve known him as for years.
Those who find the film a fantastic experience should love the bonus features
and the admirable amount of insider information they provide. While I was relatively
ambivalent as to The Matador’s brilliance, many critics
saw it as just that. Find out for yourself. Give The Matador
a well deserved try.
Movie Score: B
DVD Sounds and Visuals Score: B+
DVD Packaging and Layout Score: B+
DVD Extras Score: B+ DVD Overall Score: B+
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