My July 2006 Viewings

Includes my personal ratings.
Recommended DVDs in bold.

Twilight 07/28/06
Monk 4:3 07/28/06 (B)
Songcatcher 07/21/06 (A-)
On a Clear Day 07/17/06
Monk 4:2 07/11/06 (B)
The Matador 07/10/06 (B)
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 07/05/06 (C-)

The Matador (2006)

Juicy Bits

Denverites Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear) and his wife Bean (Hope Davis) have had some rough times with the death of their young son, the loss of a significant job, attempting to start up a new business, and, at last, a lightning-struck tree crashing into their kitchen just as Danny is leaving for an important business trip to Mexico City. He must go. He must land this contract if his business is to be viable.

While drinking a margarita in an stark, sterile hotel bar in Mexico City, Danny meets Julian Noble (Pierce Brosnan) and is at once both fascinated and repulsed by this man. Julian is as smooth as they come but it's revealed over the course of the next day that he has no permanent home, no family, no friends, travels worldwide from one bar and bordello to another, and makes his living as a hit man (or as Julian prefers to call himself: "a corporate fatality facilitator").

While attending a bullfight, Danny gets an idea of what Julian's work entails. He's intrigued but also realizes the danger and wrongness of it all.

Six months pass. Julian is having problems with his job. He's distracted and failed an assignment in Manila. He's lost his edge and focus. He's burned out. But he needs to keep working and convinces his "contractor" to use him again. Again he fails.

Julian suddenly shows up in the middle of a wintery night at Danny and Bean's front door. Danny's told Bean all about him and at first they are apprehensive but they invite Julian to stay anyhow as they get more and more involved with him and this dangerous life he's lived.

When Julian reveals to Danny that there is now a contract on Julian's life, Danny knows that as Julian's only friend, he must help save the man's life. The tale takes some interesting turns from there and ended up being a good story.

It's really more of a character study of Julian -- and well done on many levels. I've never really been a fan of Pierce Brosnan. I've seen him in some things in the past but just tended to avoid most of his films as I didn't care for him much as an actor beyond that certain look and sophistication. But this is an all-together different kind of role for him and one that makes me hope he gets offered more juicy parts in the future.

Directed by Richard Shepard.

Rated R for strong sexual content and language.

My June 2006 Viewings

Includes my personal ratings.
Recommended DVDs in bold.

Monk 4:1 06/03/06 (B)
Failure to Launch 06/30/06 (D)
Moonlighting 3:4 06/27/06 (B)
Syriana 06/23/06 (B)
The Sisters 06/20/06 (C)
Moonlighting 3:3 06/20/06 (B)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang 06/16/06 (B-)
Rumor Has It 06/13/06
Hostage 06/12/06
The Family Stone 06/07/06 (B-)
Smoke Signals 06/01/06 (B)